In an attempt to decrease our trash and increase our positive impact on the environment, our third graders entered into a partnership with Better Earth Logistics, a local company who creates compost through their recycling services. Most notable this year has been the desire of our students to create a zero-waste lunch hour. Of course, none of these events were flawless, but through adopting a growth mindset, each bump in the road served as an opportunity to learn and improve. Students developed ideas, communicated with the school community, aligned resources, and planned the events. All of these efforts were student driven from start to finish. Just this year alone, we had numerous student initiated projects including canned food drives, school kindness challenges, anti-bullying initiatives, and raising almost $800 for Easter Seals. Once students find their voices, they are encouraged to use them to drive their passions. Watching our older students model positive leadership for our younger students has really helped reluctant leaders find their voice! Pairing up our younger students with an older buddy has been such a powerful and rewarding experience.

Since becoming a Lighthouse School, one of our biggest success stories has been the implementation of our schoolwide buddy system.

It is clear that they have learned some of their most valuable leadership skills by watching our older students lead. Even our youngest leaders, our kindergarteners, are given opportunities to find their inner leader as they present, perform, and share victories at our daily morning meetings. Leadership opportunities exist at all levels in our school.

Seven habits leader in me