Leadership in the Junior School

LEADERSHIP

in the Junior School

Leaders. Our world is hungry for them. From students who are leading their siblings and classmates to high-level executives and political figures, we always need people to step up and take on responsibility.

At Dio, our teachers are invested in preparing our students to thrive in the world of their future. To that end, we must also be invested in encouraging them to be the kind of leaders that this world wants and needs.

A key feature of our School’s success is the active involvement of students in the life of the School. The Junior School offers a diverse range of leadership opportunities for all students within their class. At the Year 6 level, this includes being appointed a leader of a specific group, joining leadership teams and participating in leadership programmes. Our specific Year 6 opportunities include Junior School Council, Service Council, House captains, sports captains, environmental leaders, librarians, leaders of our music groups and choirs, the Makerspace, bell, drivethrough and road patrol. Girls are given job descriptions of all the leadership roles and then choose the one(s) for which they would like to be considered.

Our school-based Leaders’ Programme focuses on the skills, values and attitudes needed for effective student leadership. This programme aims to maximise students’ leadership potential and effectiveness by focusing on the following: • Speaking up • Stepping up • Having a go • Team thinking • Showing the way

Through their participation, students learn about: • Public speaking • What makes a good leader • Organisational and team skills • Encouraging others • Problem solving • Being an upstander, not a bystander

Our Year 6 student leaders are our role models. As role models, the girls are encouraged to display: • Care, kindness, courtesy and reliability • Positivity and enthusiasm • Empathy towards others • Manners and basic good grace when dealing with other students • Honesty and dignity • Self-discipline • Self-control of feelings and actions

I think one of the keys to leadership is recognising that everybody has gifts and talents. A good leader will learn how to harness those gifts toward the same goal.

Sue Brewin, Head of Junior School

Students presenting at the Year 6 Exhibition in November 2019.