On Tuesday, October 11th, eight students from Pleasant Crossing Elementary School will form a new group with one purpose – to show their fellow students what real Leadership looks like.
Principal Terry Magnuson and Counselor Diane Ramer, with the assistance of staff members from Pilsung ATA Martial Arts, have developed a new Leadership Program to help teach students how to be good leaders and members of their community. The program will begin with eight specially selected third graders and grow from there as the students and parents of the school see the impact it is having in their school’s sense of community.
The mission of the group, and its organizers, is best expressed in the letter that went out to the families of the students selected to become the core of this new group.
“…The concept is called Project Based Leadership Training (PBLT) and it is all about encouraging students to develop strong leadership skills by demonstrating solid life skills.
In our PBLT Program, we will help the students create projects that help them practice their growing leadership skills. Every student is unique; every project the team takes on will be as unique as the students involved. Every project will be different and each one will teach a different lesson. Each project will be accompanied by a lesson in good citizenship and good leadership, helping the student grow and understand the power they have to affect the lives of those around them. The power of the Service Project is something special, it is a force that can change and improve entire communities. “ – Excerpt from Letter to Parents
It is the hope of the school that this program grows. The type of “experiential learning” in which these students will be participating can have an incredible impact on their lives. Even more importantly it can have a fantastic positive impact on the lives of everyone in their communities, both school and home. This program is a different kind of leadership training, teaching the children that the best way to lead is by example and not command, by helping others instead of pushing them. As they learn to be better leaders they will be learning about the types of skills and attributes that will help them succeed in life. They will discover Self-Respect, what real Respect and Honor look like, how to act with Integrity, what Courtesy sounds like and so much more.