Building leaders at GMS and GHS
Contributed
Working together: Students from Goldendale middle and high schools attended a three-day leadership camp at GMS. The goal of the seminar was to teach students that leadership is about service to the school.
Though many folks are thinking about vacation at this time of year, the leadership students of Goldendale High School and Middle School were hard at work honing their leadership skills at a three day leadership camp held at GMS. Associated Student Body and National Junior Honor Society student leaders from the middle school as well as student government and spirit leaders at GHS participated in the event, held from July 31-Aug. 2.
According to Joe Fenbert, facilitator, “The number one goal of this seminar is to teach students that leadership is about service to the school.” Fenbert was joined by Vincent Perez in delivering the core of the leadership content to the sixth-12th graders present. About 25 students participated. “What these students need to do is take the skills we have taught them and answer the question ‘How can I serve the student body using these tools?’” Fenbert added. He added that students have a critical role in establishing the culture of any school. Fenbert and Perez work in close concert with the Association of Washington School Principals and do extensive leadership training for students all over the state.
The first day of the inservice was organized by Lisa Harness from Klickitat County 4H extension. That first afternoon it was evident that some of the newly elected leaders from both schools were a little bit nervous about their new roles. By the end of the sessions, even GMS students were clearly more confident and sixth graders were at ease presenting their ideas and creative work to high school students, the middle school principal, and other adults.
“The most important thing I learned was that I can get up in front of a crowd and not feel scared to talk,” stated Zoey Moeller, GMS sixth grade ASB representative.
Contributed
On the afternoon of the third day, middle school students presented their artistic rendition of a “role model student,” a drawing that represented what the characteristics of a good role model are.
High school students also spent time mentoring their younger protégés and gave them advice on how to be successful in middle school. “One of the neatest things about the whole session was the way the kids from the high school really took the middle school students under their wing to help them get ready for their new roles and to share experiences of leadership,” said advisor Rachael Hurst. Hurst and Ginger Plum, GHS Health Fitness and Leadership teacher did most of the planning for the three day event.