By Sloan Magliery, Assistant Head of Middle School
Last week, the 8th grade participated in an exciting, interactive leadership workshop led by Ted Wiese, a presenter who travels the country working with students on developing leadership skills. Because at Wellington we believe that all students are leaders, Ted's presentation is a perfect fit. One of his main messages is that everyone has the opportunity to lead each day. "Leadership is a choice," he tells the students. While 31 of our 8th graders applied to be 8th grade leaders, we believe that every 8th grade student is a leader in the middle school.
They all serve as a buddy to a 5th grader and set an example each day for what it looks like to be a member of the Wellington middle-school community. During House time, they serve as the "veteran players" on the team, leading by example and setting a tone for the rest of the students in the room. Throughout Ted's workshop, students participated in activities that allowed them to practice the keys to leadership that Ted presented: action, teamwork, reliance on a diversity of strengths, attitude, perseverance, and care for others.
As they did these activities, students earned the prized possession of the day: one of Ted's pink, flexible keychains. Soon every student wanted one, a symbol of not only all they had learned and the fun they had with Ted and each other, but also a reminder of the potential they each have to be a leader at Wellington and beyond!