HAMMOND – Who will be the leaders of tomorrow?
Sixth graders at St. Casimir School are getting a head start thanks to a Junior Leader Journey they recently completed under the sponsorship of Big Shoulders Fund.
To showcase their accomplishments in this pilot program, Big Shoulders Fund hosted a Visions of Leadership Art Gala at the Diocese of Gary school on April 11, inviting parents, education leaders and supporters to join students and teachers for an art exhibit, games, a review of classroom activities and an opportunity to hear students report on their work. There was even an Affirmation Station that welcomed guests to post an encouraging note for the young scholars.
“Today is our way of showing you what we’ve done,” announced sixth-grader Sophia Mejia in her welcoming address. “Take in all of the artwork, and the advice to future Junior Leaders on the Reflection Wall. The goal is to build bold, sensitive and intentional leaders.”
St. Casimir principal Matt Chico explained that the Junior Leadership Journey began last October at the suggestion of Giselle Jones, Big Shoulders Fund director of Scholarship Programs and Leadership Development for Northwest Indiana. “Creativity developing into leadership” was the goal as the 33 students took on a number of team projects, he added.
Jones said Chico and the teachers chose to focus on sixth graders for the program “because they are just being introduced to junior high and we wanted them to become more confident as they prepare for the rigors of high school. They were an absolute joy to work with.”
She especially encouraged the guests to accept the challenge of three interactive games set up by the students to demonstrate cooperation and teamwork. “Sight Unseen” had students leading blindfolded partners in a drawing exercise, “Teamwork Tower” offered teams of up to three people a chance to build the tallest tower with only raw spaghetti, marshmallows and rubber bands, and “Cupllaboration” gave participants a opportunity to collaborate.
“I’m trying to be an engineer,” said parent Maria Gutierrez as she stabbed a marshmallow into a piece of spaghetti. “I think this program is really nice, because it is teaching students to be leaders and go-getters. I see a difference in my son; he’s more outgoing.”
Claudia Orozco, mother of Mauricio Orozco, said the change she has noticed in her child since the Junior Leadership Journey is “you see a calmness in him,” while Mylynh Gallardo said of her son Jaydenn Gallardo’s demeanor, “He’s not a talkative person, but this has built his confidence up.”
Jodi McLawhorn, assistant superintendent of Diocese of Gary schools, praised the leadership training the students received. “One of the things we find in education is the great impact leadership has in schools,” she said. “To see leadership as a concept taught at this age – it will have an impact on tomorrow, and that’s why it is such a great thing, along with the other activities Giselle (Jones) does.
“These young people are the (Catholic) disciples of tomorrow,” McLawhorn added, “and this will bring them the skills to do that.”
Junior Leadership Journey participants manned a section of wall labeled the Affirmation Station, waiting with sticky notes and decals that guests could write on to praise and encourage the students’ work. “I’m writing ‘Follow your dreams,’” said junior high English teacher Jorge Gomez. “It is awesome to see all of this and these students taking on these roles.”
The artwork exhibited by the students gave them a chance to express their favorite things in life and their feelings.
Daniel Garcia’s painting featured “the things that make me happy – soccer, my school, nature, a roller coaster and my house,” he said, while Hugo Salazar prominently featured the brightly-colored word “JOY,” which he said represented his feelings as “a servant leader.”
Salazar said the leadership program was “a fun experience. I like the teamwork and communication,” while Garcia called the leadership journey “a good experience. It taught us teamwork, how to work with other people and to be more social.”
“You truly embody what it means to be a St. Casimir scholar,” Chico told the young leaders. “You have inspired us; you are the reason why we do this,” he said of the educators in the room. “To our sponsors, thank you for what you do for our kids, and to the parents, thank you for working hand in hand with us.”
Caption: Artists (from left) Daniel Garcia and Hugo Salazar were on hand at St. Casimir School in Hammond to explain the visions they portrayed in their paintings displayed at the Hammond school's Visions of Leadership Art Gala on April 10. Garcia painted the things that make him happy, "soccer, school, nature, roller coasters and my house" while Salazar featured the word "JOY" to explain his feelings about being a "servant leader." (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
