Students at North Royalton Elementary School are learning that leadership means more than holding a position. Through Student Council, third- and fourth-grade students are making a difference in their school and community by organizing service projects, supporting local organizations and encouraging their classmates to get involved.
Each classroom is represented by one student selected by their teacher for consistently demonstrating the BEAR Way. These student leaders work together throughout the school year to plan activities, organize charitable initiatives and represent the ideas of their classmates.
One of this year's projects is the Halloween Candy Give Back, which encourages students and families to donate extra Halloween candy. Student Council members help organize the collection, with donations benefiting first responders, veterans, military personnel and seniors at the local senior center.
Students also recently created 100 placemats for the North Royalton Senior Center's fall luncheon, adding a personal touch to the event for local seniors. They plan to make additional placemats for the center's winter luncheon in December.
Another annual tradition is Sweet Dreams Day, when students can donate $1 to wear pajamas to school. All proceeds benefit the North Royalton Office of Family Services' Adopt a Child for Christmas Campaign, helping provide holiday gifts for children in need.
Student Council members will also help support the school's upcoming food drive, November 30 through December 11, collecting donations for the Office on Aging.
Beyond organizing service projects, Student Council gives students opportunities to develop communication, teamwork and decision-making skills. Members gather suggestions from classmates, brainstorm ideas for school spirit weeks and vote on themes and activities. They also create promotional posters, share announcements with their classrooms and speak on the school's morning announcements to encourage participation.
Each student takes an active role in accomplishing the group's goals, whether creating posters, preparing announcements, collecting donations or counting contributions.
The program also encourages students to recognize needs and take initiative. During a previous school year, when additional placemats were needed for a senior center event, a group of Student Council members independently recruited their friends to help make enough placemats to reach the group's goal.
These experiences connect directly to North Royalton City Schools' Portrait of a Bear initiative, particularly the competencies of Leadership, Communication and Empathy. Through their service and collaboration, students learn to take responsibility, consider the needs of others and work together to accomplish meaningful goals.
For North Royalton Elementary School's youngest leaders, Student Council provides an opportunity to see how their ideas and actions can make a positive difference. Whether supporting local seniors, helping families during the holidays or encouraging classmates to participate in school activities, these students are discovering the importance of giving back to their community.