Planting the Seeds of Leadership

In the CESJDS Portrait of a Graduate, we share the qualities we hope to cultivate and support in our students as they matriculate in our school toward graduation. There are six overarching attributes that are part of the Portrait, among them becoming an ethical, responsible, and compassionate global citizen. There are several specific elements which define each of the larger characteristics and one that is connected to this one about citizenship is: has the skills and social understanding to lead. 

Being a true leader, as the Portrait suggests, is not a position or a title. Leadership is defined and embodied by a person’s skills, actions, and personality: their way of being with others in the world. When we at CESJDS think about and discuss the skills needed for effective leadership, we include among many others, oral and written communication, collaboration, critical thinking and analysis, organization/executive function, and problem-solving and conflict management abilities. Social understanding is characterized by elements such as self-confidence, empathy, kindness, compassion, reflectiveness, and knowing and taking a stand for your community’s values. Clearly, these are all characteristics that are taught, developed, and nurtured over time and, at CESJDS, the process of doing so is purposefully and thoughtfully initiated from when our students are still quite young. 

Over their years at the Lower School, our students grow toward the much anticipated 5th grade year, which offers many wonderful leadership opportunities. Beginning as early as Gurim, our students look up to 5th graders as role models and “can’t wait” until it will be their turn to fill the leadership and mentoring roles that support them as young students. While students in grades JK-4 have “tastes” of leadership in different ways over the years through tikkun olam/repair of the world social action projects and educational programs like assemblies, celebrations of learning, and t’filah/prayer, it is during 5th grade that many more opportunities become available. As our students complete their elementary school years, they have opportunities to lead the division in the following important ways

• Leading daily Morning Announcements 
• Serving as Safety Patrols
• Being Reading Buddies for Gurim and Kindergarten students
• Creating and promoting school-wide tikkun olam projects: Thanksgiving Food Drive, Winter Clothing Drive, Used Book Drive
• Participating in Student Council and its subcommittees: Green Team, Playground Enhancement, Newspaper, Tikkun Olam
• Leading during Whole School Kabbalat Shabbat and/or Morning Meeting
• Performing in solo roles in the Fanaroff Family Hanukkah Musical
• Being Admission Ambassadors who present to prospective families
• Reading Torah during 5th Grade Thursday Morning Torah Services after completing the learning of cantillation during Term 1
• Chanting M’gillat Esther on Purim
• Planning and running stations during our Purim Carnival, Yom Ha-atzma-ut Celebration, and Lag Ba-Omer Field Day programs
• Serving as Holocaust Museum Program Docents for Yom Ha-Sho-ah v’Hag’vurah/Holocaust and Heroism Memorial Day
• School Store managers and salespeople

Indeed, 5th grade is a milestone year for students because they are concluding their time as elementary schoolers. However, what makes the school year itself particularly meaningful, special, and a true capstone experience are the varied opportunities in leadership that allow the students to demonstrate the skills and social understandings they have developed over the years. They are able to witness and share their growth and accomplishments and feel ready, by the end of the year, to transition with confidence to middle school, which comes with its own new opportunities and challenges. The foundation established at the Lower School sets a tone and forms a grounding for students who will grow in and embrace leadership for years to come.