WHY SES: Community Impacts at Every Age

Yesterday, upper school students had the opportunity to learn from C-level executive Michelle McKenna. Her presentation, entitled “Dynamic or Disruptive: What Kind of Leader Will You Be?” provided our students with insight from the successful executive who has logged years of transformative work with Disney, the NFL, Universal and more. How did Ms. McKenna find her way to our small school on the barrier island? Our students. Juniors Nick Weise and Sebastian Hall had the idea to create a Distinguished Speaker Series for their peers and interested parents, and yesterday’s inaugural event laid the groundwork for our community to once again actively engage in learning outside the classroom.

 

At Saint Edward’s School, upper school students are encouraged to develop their own clubs based on their passions. By now you may have heard of Caffeine and Canines, which is an event sponsored by the Active Minds Club. The members provide free coffee and furry affection from local service dogs as students prepare for exams. It’s magic to watch our eldest students on campus melt when they see their beloved dogs waiting for them on the Waxlax patio. The opportunity to have a positive impact starts much earlier than the Upper School, however. Lower school students can participate in Student Council initiatives and community service, just two examples that provide experience in creating excitement toward reaching a common goal. Middle school students also have a dynamic Student Council that has spearheaded themes for the Fall Dance, organized community service projects and, most importantly, serves as a voice for their peers. Representatives advocate for their classes by bringing new ideas to meetings and working together to shape future initiatives. 

When students have the freedom (with guardrails, of course) to see a concept bloom from an idea to an organization that fosters community engagement, they learn the all-important “soft” skill of emotional intelligence. The National Association of Independent Schools’ recent article on the importance of Emotional Intelligence says that “Having a high EQ enables us to handle the challenges we might encounter. This type of intelligence allows us to think rationally and temper our emotions with patience and understanding. We think before we act, practice good decision-making, and foster positive interpersonal relationships.” At Saint Edward’s, a well-tuned EQ has as much value as a robust IQ, because we understand that true critical thinkers and seekers can only be successful if they recognize and embrace a world that has a rich spectrum of cultures, languages and influences.

I encourage you to ask your child about what ideas he or she may have to enrich the student experience on campus. Whether it’s athletic, academic or fine arts related, we all have valuable contributions to share, and those ideas, transformed into action, are a cornerstone of this vibrant, exciting campus.


Stuart