Students make important decisions about their school on Student Summit Day.
Normally students are assigned to classes at the beginning of the school year and stay in their assigned groups all year. But that's not the case at St. John School. Every few weeks, during the morning, students leave their regular classes and form special groups called Student Summits. In their Student Summit groups, children from Kindergarten to Grade 8 get to work together on projects and make decisions that impact their school community.
"It's all part of our LeaderinMe process," explains Corinna Glazier, Principal. "Our Student Summit groups are chosen at the beginning of the year and empower students to work within a multi-grade team throughout the school year to make decisions, lead initiatives and take on leadership responsibilities."
At the February Student Summit, they got to choose their 2019 - 2020 agenda covers and make personal invitations for their families for the upcoming Student-Led Conference happening in March.
Brooklynn Dumontier, Grade 5 student, explains why she enjoys Student Summits. "I like Student Summits because most of the students in my Summit are not in my class and I get to know different people and make decisions and work on important ideas about our school."
Before the end of the school day, students will learn which choice was chosen for the agenda cover. Student Data Trackers will go around the school, collect the votes, tabulate the results and make an announcement on the PA System to let everyone know the decision.
"The Student Summits are an important part of our school culture," says Glazier. "It allows students to take the lead on decisions making and helps forge strong relationships between the grades and amongst students that wouldn't otherwise be possible."
The Student Summit Groups are formed in September and last for the duration of the school year. Students meet after the daily Start Me Up Assembly.