Innovation at Dalat #9 Student Leadership

Student Council, the Junior class experience, and the Senior class experience are instrumental in developing strong leaders. But they don’t provide a lot of opportunity for our grade 9 and 10 students to practice their leadership skills.  

“How can we do this better?”

This was the question that led to a significant change, to the structure of our leadership program, which was announced to the Student Council earlier this week. Our goal is to expand the leadership development experience for our younger students and have a more consistent and thoughtful  approach to all of our student leadership.

Next year our Ninth and tenth-grade students will each be led by two sponsors and will elect officers to lead Executive Committees (Ex-Coms) of 8-10 students. Every Monday during X-block, either the Ex-Com or volunteers from the entire class will meet to work and plan activities and events.

Ninth grade students will have a number of opportunities to plan and participate in, like class parties and hosting an event for the entire high school. Tenth-grade students will work with their sponsors to run a lunchtime store (what is currently the StuCo store) and to organize events such as our Christmas Banquet. Throughout the year, both grade levels will have opportunities to learn leadership lessons and come into the Jr. year more prepared. Overall, more students will be able to get involved and find out what they enjoy/where they are gifted.

Out of all the student Ex-Coms, a group will also be given the opportunity to serve on the Principal’s Advisory League (PAL). PAL students will meet regularly with the principal to advise, support, and communicate with the administration about student issues.

All of the leadership groups—each class Ex-Com, PALs, Dorm Council, and Spiritual Leadership—will make up what is called Student Government.