 |
Greenville City Schools
WAVE Leaders at South
Middle School
From Rhonda Schaar
What does it mean to be a WAVE Leader? Students who join WAVE
Leaders at South Middle School have an opportunity to give to their
community while meeting WAVE Expectations. WAVE
Expectations is the positive behavior and intervention system at South
MS that guides behavior expectations for students in all areas of the
school. Students are taught, retaught and acknowledged for
appropriate behavior by showing: We are respectful, Always responsible,
Very kind, as well as Excited and ready to learn. In joining the
WAVE Leaders, students are able to apply these expectations in an
opportunity to serve their community.
WAVE Leaders began in the early 2000’s under a different name and at a
different building within GCS. This engaging and valid learning
opportunity for students has evolved to what we need students to know
and do for the 21st Century by building a sense of community through
service. This service learning group was initially titled the
Ladies and Gentlemen’s Club at North School. Principal
Maureen McDonough and then teacher Lisa Maher created this group to
help students develop leadership skills and relationships with those of
another generation. These students were encouraged to build a
sense of community through service and adopting a grandparent.
Students were separated by gender during the activities. Once a
month students were bused to the Brethren Retirement Community.
Boys went for breakfast while the girls traveled over for lunch.
Students learned appropriate manners, served residents, and developed
intergenerational relationships. Students were able to read to
residents, escort them to the fair and walk them around the home as
well as other activities. Students also met once a month
during an extended homeroom to work on arts and crafts to share with
their adopted grandparents.
When North School was consolidated to the current Middle School system
of 5th and 6th grade at South School, the Ladies and Gentleman’s Club
continued their service by walking at least once a month after school
to the BRH as well an additional meeting a month for continued
etiquette activities with arts and crafts. They also had field
trips to local venues such as Fairlawn and Maid Rite to learn table
manners, ordering protocol and other etiquette.
In the last few years, the Ladies and Gentleman’s Club name was changed
to WAVE Leaders continuing with their service vision to after school
while expanding their leadership responsibilities at South MS.
Teachers Nancy Person, Nan Hottle, Mindy Kissinger, Karen Magoteaux and
Mary Petry continued with previous activities while expanding the role
of the WAVE Leaders. WAVE Leader activities include:
leadership for South’s involvement in homecoming activities, escorting
parents during conferences, reading special announcements for holidays,
organize activities for celebrations and work for the betterment of the
community.
For the current year, WAVE Leaders will be under the supervision of
teachers Emily McIntyre, Chad Curtis, Tiffany Oswalt and Shannan
Miller. The planned activities this year include visits to the
Brethren Retirement Community every third Thursday of the month to
participate in activities with an adopted grandparent. One
example of a monthly activity is reverse trick or treat. Students
will dress up and pass out treats to the residents. The residents
look forward to this yearly activity and are thrilled to see the
children dressed up in fun outfits. WAVE Leaders will
continue with leadership at the homecoming parade and spirit week,
parent teacher conferences and holiday activities. The sponsors
are planning two food bank drives this year to support the increasing
needs in our community. One drive will coordinate with the
beginning of the holiday season this December and the other is
scheduled for April. WAVE Leaders will encourage their peers’
participation by organizing a classroom competition.
During the first semester the initial WAVE Leaders are 6th
graders. During the second semester, 5th graders are
invited to join the group allowing the 6th graders an opportunity to
mentor the new members. The following year the mentored students
become the first semester WAVE Leaders providing trained school wide
leadership.
The membership of this service group has ranged in size from 30 to more
than 80 students each year. Many students have continued their
volunteer work at the Brethren Retirement Community beyond their middle
school career. Some have continued their education to include
nursing or work in geriatrics based on their experiences in this middle
school service opportunity. Research supports service
learning in the positive development and growth of children.
(http://www.servicelearning.umn.edu/info/benefits.html)
The skills the children learn through their membership in this group
provides lifelong skills of leadership and empathy with others.
Students have a greater understanding of their community and the needs
of others as well as their role to make a difference. As the
Civil Liberty Project from 2002 explains, “the benefit of service
learning helps the community but the greatest benefit is for the
individual student”. Children develop self-esteem, a sense
of belonging and a role of responsibility to the larger community in
which they live.
Make sure you recognize WAVE Leaders of South Middle School and what
they give back to the Greenville Community!!
Thanks to retired teacher and former WAVE Leader supervisor Nancy
Person as well as current teacher and WAVE Leader supervisor Emily
McIntyre for their contributions to this article.
Principal South MS
rschaar@greenville.k12.oh.us
|
|
|
|
