Building character and community at MICDS underpins so much of the incredible work that takes place on our campus. With that in mind, re-establishing the in-person community and values that accompany a kind and supportive campus environment was a priority following the pandemic. “Coming out of covid, the sixth-grade team wanted a break from academic classes to provide students with an experience that placed them into activities and challenges that fostered teamwork,” says Mark Duvall, Sixth Grade Dean. Out of that has developed LEAD day. “LEAD Day puts into practice the ideals outlined in the MICDS Mission Statement and the Middle School Honor Code. The goal is to establish a healthy community in which all students feel welcome and included, and ensure that our Middle School is a safe and supportive place for all.”
LEAD Day activities have students rotate to three stations designed specifically to allow them to put LEAD into action. “This day gave students the opportunity to take on a variety of challenges that asked them to apply their LEAD skills,” says Dustin Delfin, Middle School Math Teacher. “In a low-stakes, high-energy environment, students were encouraged to take risks and use those skills to accomplish the goals at each station,” he says. Sixth graders participated in a low-ropes course that strengthened their teamwork, a scavenger hunt that piqued their curiosity, and the “toxic island” exercise that challenged them to balance self-advocacy with collaboration. Each station was designed “to put students into purposeful challenges where they are practicing the LEAD qualities,” says Duvall.
Although all four of the LEAD principles were present in the low-ropes course, students had to rely heavily on teamwork and embracing challenges to make progress at this station. “I appreciated how each group refused to give up, learning from what didn’t work and using those lessons to move forward with the challenges,” Delfin says. This parallels their everyday academic life, where students may not see success on the first try, but will make progress by continuing to work toward a goal.
Mr. Delfin was pleased with how LEAD Day enhanced an already strong community. “This was a great time to host this special day, right in the middle of Homecoming Week. Unity and togetherness were already present on the MICDS campus, but this day elevated sixth graders, helping them further build camaraderie while enhancing their LEADership skills.”
Sixth graders reflected on the LEAD Day and the ways it influenced their curiosity, teamwork, and sense of community.
Annie Mileusnic ’32
“I enjoyed the toxic island because it was really fun, and it helped me learn how to better listen to other ideas.”
Henry Flynn ’32
“Each team I was in had some sort of conflict, but we always solved it and managed it respectfully.”
Eloise Morris ’32
“I practiced embracing challenges and demonstrating teamwork and collaboration with my team during the toxic island challenge. Our team’s invention didn’t work the first couple of times, but we kept trying and eventually succeeded.”
Yusuf Azhar ’32
“In every single one of the activities, you were placed in groups randomly, and that helped you collaborate with people who aren’t your best friends. Except in the scavenger hunt, you got to pick, but it was highly encouraged to join in groups that you didn’t know, and bonus points for mixing gender, and I think that encouraged a lot of people.”
Brenda Huang ’32
“I learned how to embrace challenge the most since each team I was in had some sort of conflict, but we always solved it and managed it respectfully. We also used challenges as strategies, instead of a roadblock.”
Well done, Rams!