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

Self-Awareness, Courage and Responsibility!

During Term 4 Year 4 have been preparing to be leaders, ready for 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. We are currently in the process of choosing the Junior School Captain and Vice-Captain and the courage of the girls who have nominated and put themselves out there is evident.

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.

The Junior School Captain and Vice-Captain will be announced at Speech Day.

– Joanne Sharpe
Deputy Head of Junior School – Wellbeing