From the Deputy Head of Junior School – Wellbeing, Year 4 Preparing to be Leaders

Self-Awareness, Courage and Responsibility!

During Term 4, our Year 4 students prepared to be leaders, ready for when they enter Year 5.

As a Round Square School, MLC Junior School makes use of the Round Square Heroes of Discovery to develop character traits in our students.

We have developed a leadership upskilling program, using the RS Heroes of Discovery, to support our Year 5 girls as leaders of the Junior School. In Year 4 this program starts with:

Self-Awareness: What are my likes and dislikes? What am I good at? What are my interests? By becoming self-aware the girls can discern what leadership portfolios they might be suited to and enjoy. There are leadership portfolios in Junior School Captaincy, Junior School Student Council, art, environment, library, music, service, sport and technology.

Courage: It takes courage to put yourself forward for a leadership position and potentially miss out on it. It takes courage to give a speech in front of others. The girls also learn about strategies to handle their nerves and disappointments (a very important element in this program).

Responsibility: All leadership positions have responsibilities to action. The girls learn what responsibility is and how to can look in their actions. We look at the responsibilities of different leadership roles, so the girls understand what is expected of them in each one.

The program includes stories about each Round Square Heroes of Discovery, along with a response on Seesaw so parents can be informed of the girls’ reflections and ideas. I have been really impressed with the Year 4 girls’ participation and discernment about themselves and others.

Next year the leadership program continues with the character traits of teamwork, communication and problem solving – traits that can be well used when taking responsibility of their portfolios.

To read more about the leadership efforts and opportunities in the Senior School, click here.

– Joanne Sharpe
Deputy Head of Junior School – Wellbeing