Creating our future leaders
Published 3:15 pm Monday, September 29, 2014
John Quincy Adams said if your “actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more,” then you are a leader.
The teens of Orcas High School’s first leadership class hope their efforts will do just that for their fellow students.
“We want to motivate them to join in school spirit activities,” said senior Melanie Flint, who is also Co-President of the Associated Student Body.
The class, which is the “action arm” of the ASB, will cover topics like communication skills, group processes, managerial skills, self-awareness, human relations and Robert’s Rules of Order as developed by the Washington Student Leadership program.
But leadership instructor Mike Buckner says the main focus right now is encouraging school unity and organizing assemblies – a task that has typically been handled by a small group of students on their own time.
“Now we have regular time to get things done,” said Buckner, who is the ASB advisor as well as a math and OASIS teacher.
A few weeks after school started, the class led its first assembly with music, games and skits that demonstrated rules from the school’s handbook. Buckner dressed in what not to wear (like crop tops and Speedos) and modeled outfits over his regular clothes for the audience. They also addressed speeding, theft, cellphone usage and fighting.
“The students’ response was really positive,” said ASB Co-President Hannah Brunner-Gaydos.
Next up is homecoming the second week of October. There will be school spirit events every day and an assembly at 1:15 p.m. in the gym on Oct. 10. The community is invited to attend. At 2:50 p.m., a homecoming parade will make its way through Eastsound.
Buckner and five students went to a week-long leadership camp this summer near Mount St. Helens. The trip was funded by a grant through the Orcas Island Education Foundation.
“It was incredible,” said Buckner. “Every student who went loved it.”
After its success, High School Principal Kyle Freeman asked Buckner to lead the school’s first leadership course.
“I thought it was a great idea and I wanted to be more involved in the school,” Buckner said. “I want to help students boost their morale and school spirit.”
Under Buckner’s guidance, the ASB is also gaining new momentum. Three clubs have launched this year through the program: Blue Crew Cheering Club, Debate Club, Newspaper Club and Gender Issues.
While Buckner’s leadership class includes the ASB student-elected executive council, which consists of Flint, Brunner-Gaydos, Taj Howe, Mikaela Hansen and Daria Stankevich, the course is open to any high school student.
The teens say leaders they look up to are teacher Corey Wiscomb and coaches Dennis Dahl and Scott Harris. As role models they are “spirited, funny, lead by example, are serious but not too serious and motivate you to be better.”
