Shawnee Heights sixth-grade leadership team describes weekly activities, community outreach

Shawnee Heights Elementary’s sixth-grade leadership team presented to the Shawnee Heights Board of Education during the board’s communications segment, describing how students were selected and what the group does at school.

The leadership team said students applied with an application, cover letter and reference letter; staff then selected a 12-member team. Team members described weekly duties that include morning greeters who give high-fives at parent pickup, cafeteria helpers, announcements and infomercials to reinforce building expectations, and participation in school events such as Pancakes with Santa, music programs, Veterans Day parade and intramurals.

Students gave examples of character-building work: a “key to a new year” bulletin board, confetti notes with positive messages shared across classrooms, an infomercial on bathroom expectations, and outreach to fifth-grade classrooms to explain leadership team responsibilities. Several students said the team’s visible behavior — greeting younger students and modeling responsibility — encourages kinder behavior and responsibility among other students.

Board members asked about the program’s history and continuity; presenters said this was the second year of the sixth-grade leadership format, which had previously existed in another student-council form. When asked what they will carry to seventh grade, students said they expected to keep “being kind,” leading by example and teaching others to be responsible.

After the presentation the board invited the students to remain for the remainder of the meeting or to leave; board members praised the students’ work and thanked staff who support the program.