This school year, as a component of its teachings of Stephen Covey's Leader in Me philosophy and the Habits of Happy Kids, Manor Oaks School has launched a new leadership and student-jobs initiative: the Lighthouse Leadership program.
The Building Level Team and the Manor Oaks School community joined together to create this year’s ongoing theme: “Let the 7 (now 8) Habits Be Your Guide” with a lighthouse and ocean theme. The Lighthouse Leadership program supports the eighth habit of “Find Your Voice and Inspire Others to Find Theirs.”
Student Council created the job opportunities for students in grades K-6, led assemblies on the program and job responsibilities, and reviewed student applications.
The Lighthouse Leadership jobs include: announcer (ticket caller), who picks and announce the students who won the lunch ticket; event planner, who creates flyers for events, plans spirit or themed days, and assists in setting up events; hallway/morning greeters, who welcome everyone to the building each morning and help students carry their belongings to class; library shelf organizer, who helps organize the library books and ensure they are neat and in their correct places on the shelves; lost and found helper, who goes class-to-class with the card to show the missing items, adds items to the lost and found and makes sure the pile is organized; mail carrier, who deliver mail from the main office to classrooms; recycling team, who shares recycling facts through monthly videos, plans Earth Day activities and began an initiative to bring recycling back into schools; safety patrol, who make sure the hallway is clear and that students walk calmly to their classrooms; tour guide/welcome committee, who lead parents and visitors around the building during school events and help new students feel welcome; video production team, who will create videos to share with the school; tech squad, who helps students with tech issues on their Chromebooks; and equipment squad, who assists in organizing the recess equipment and gym equipment.
The students are paid for their jobs with a “check” signed by the Student Council, which they can then cash in for Lighthouse Bucks to purchase school supplies or activities. The positions are offered for varying times, from one month to the duration of the school year, to allow new students to try the jobs or for students to hone their skills in their current job until June.
“As young leaders, students will become more active, engaged partners in the school community, build their self-confidence and become more responsible,” Principal Jane Ruthkowski said. “They will learn to listen to new ideas, work together to achieve results, and motivate one another to do their best for the school community and peers.”
