IMMOKALEE - Highlands Elementary School (HLE) recently hosted its 8th Annual Leadership Day. “Leadership Day is a yearly opportunity for students to demonstrate the leadership skills they have cultivated over the course of their academic career at Highlands,” explains Chad Crary, Lighthouse Team Leader and Academic Coach at HLE. “In a typical year, students would interact and share their daily experiences with adults that visit our campus. It is an amazing sight to see! This year due to the health pandemic, we are excited to virtually present how our students have been living our school motto of ‘Leading the Wave to Success!’”

Families received an invitation to watch the Leadership Day premiere on April 21 at their convenience. The virtual experience featured student leaders showcasing special aspects of the school, such as its celebration of diversity, student leadership notebooks, and related arts.

“Everyone knows that lunch, recess, and related arts are favorites among students; but at Highlands, our related arts are even more exciting and empowering because of the infusion of the 7 Habits,” shares fifth grader Vontaeise.

Vontaeise is referring to Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which is incorporated into the school’s culture and explained in the Leadership Day video. Additionally, HLE is a Leader in Me Lighthouse School.

“Having recently earned recertification of our Lighthouse School status, we are proud of the work that we do daily to mold and develop tomorrow’s leaders!” states media specialist Pete Cade enthusiastically.

“The Lighthouse Team works daily in various leadership roles such as greeting students, helping with new health and safety measures, and ensuring safe dismissal procedures,” adds Jasmine, a fourth-grade student and Lighthouse Team member. “Being a Lighthouse Team member is an important opportunity for us to be leaders beyond our classrooms. It helps us practice and perfect how to find our voice by trying new things, working together in a team, and being an advocate for others.”

“Highlands is so special because we have an empowered body of students and staff who have a strong desire to carry out the leadership opportunities provided to them,” Crary concludes. “It is a school that truly practices the paradigms of ‘Everyone Can Be a Leader’ and ‘Everyone Has Genius!’ With these mindsets engrained in the daily routines of our school, HLE has the perfect social-emotional and academic learning environment where our students feel valued and soar to new heights each and every day!”

To experience HLE’s Leadership Day, visit the school’s web page: www.collierschools.com/HLE.