The 7 Habits of Happy Kids. (Submitted photo/Jo Coombs)

On May 8, Country Oaks Elementary School held their Inaugural Community Leadership Day.

Leadership and the 7 Habits of Happy Kids serve as a foundation that helps to unleash every child’s unique gifts and talents while providing them with opportunities to be a leader.

The 7 Habits of Happy Kids

Habit #1 - Be Proactive: You’re in Charge

Habit #2 - Begin with the End in Mind: Have a Plan

Habit #3 - Put First Things First: Work First, Then Play

Habit #4 - Think Win-Win: Everyone Can Win

Habit #5 - Seek First to Understand Then to be Understood: Listen Before You Talk

Habit#6 - Synergize: Together is Better

Habit#7 - Sharpen the Saw: Balance Feels Best

When arriving student greeter leaders escorted Leadership Day participants to the library for registration and a light breakfast. Students welcomed everyone with a song before they were split-up into four tour groups.

With a bag of “goodies” and a bottle of water, we joined our assigned fourth and fifth grade Ambassadors, who led the tours and explained what each class was doing. The first graders shared examples of Habit #2 by keeping track of data (program and scores) in their data binders.

Examples of Habit #2 and #6 were shown by the second graders. Activities using the fairy tales “Rapunzel” and “The Three Little Pigs” helped to build critical thinking skills and problem solving. Materials to build houses for the pigs and a ladder to get the damsel out of the tower were used.

Third grade activities are based on the idea of education students in four specific disciplines - science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Through STEM activities students are able to work together using the 7 Habits to accomplish the same end goal. Each group of four or five students were making a roller coaster.

Mrs. Dana’s fourth grade class showed examples of Habit #3. With Chromebooks in students’ hands, we watched as Mrs. Dana taught a lesson with a program called Nearpod which can be taught live. Both teacher and students can interact during the lesson. Nearpod also has lessons that take the students on virtual field trips.

Mrs. Walker’s fifth grade science lab was definitely not for the squeemish. The students showed examples of Habit #2 and #6 as they dissected, explored and named the parts of the frogs.

COE has several clubs. These clubs work together for the betterment of the school which is a good example of Habit #6.

The cafeteria was also included in this tour. Boards were displayed showing data being tracked as a school such as reading, daily attendance, math, multiplication facts, and more.

Closing statements were made and the COE Chorus, under the direction of Mr. John Wall, performed to conclude the program.