A first for Sault Ste. Marie

NEWS RELEASE

HURON-SUPERIOR CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

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St. Basil to become ‘The Leader in Me’ school  

The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board (HSCDSB) is excited to announce that its newest elementary school will be the first The Leader in Me school in the Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District and just the third in all of northeastern Ontario. Staff members of St. Basil Catholic Elementary School have begun the training process to implement The Leader in Me program at the school beginning in September when the school opens.

The Leader in Me is Franklin Covey’s whole school transformation process. It teaches 21st Century leadership and life skills to students and creates a culture of student empowerment based on the idea that every child can be a leader.

“As we moved to consolidate four school communities into one, the Board felt that implementing a program such as The Leader in Me was ideal for the new St. Basil Catholic Elementary School. We feel this program will help create a positive culture within the school and make the transition from four schools to one much easier,” said HSCDSB Superintendent of Education, Maria Esposito.

A key component of The Leader in Me process is implementing the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The 7 Habits is a synthesis of universal, timeless principles of personal and interpersonal effectiveness, such as responsibility, vision, integrity, teamwork, collaboration and renewal, which are common to all people and cultures.

The Leader in Me is also aligned with many national and state academic standards. The process teaches students the skills needed for academic success in any setting. These skills include critical thinking, goal setting, listening and speaking, self-directed learning, presentation-making and the ability to work in groups.

“In the preliminary training that staff has received, I have already seen a transformation and what this program can accomplish. The staff members have eagerly participated in the training and they are realizing how this program can benefit the entire school community. For St. Basil, The Leader in Me program is an opportunity to create an identity for a new school right from opening day,” said St. Basil principal, Fil Lettieri.

“The board feels that the investment being made in having St. Basil Catholic Elementary become a The Leader in Me School is very worthwhile. This program will complement our Board’s Mission Statement, which calls us to develop the full potential of each child and inspire the Catholic leaders of tomorrow,” said HSCDSB Director of Education, John Stadnyk.

Franklin Covey partners with schools through professional development, coaching, and resources in the first three years. Schools can continue to access resources beyond that time frame. The Leader in Me is an adaptable process that equips schools with a set of principles and practices each school can utilize in its own way to create the kind of school culture and climate it desires. Each Leader in Me school identifies and sets its own goals and creates its own individual culture, reflecting the diversity of the community in which it is located.

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