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St. Stan's Celebrates 'Leader In Me' Lighthouse School Status

By Alisa Hauser | November 18, 2016 9:38am
 Students at St. Stan's celebrated the school's new status as a Leader in Me Lighthouse School on Thursday.
St. Stan's Leader in Me Lighthouse Assembly
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NOBLE SQUARE — St. Stan's has been named a "Leader in Me" School by the Franklin Covey Co. after successfully implementing student-led strategies based on bestselling author Stephen R. Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People."

The recognition was celebrated at an assembly on Thursday attended by the school's 168 students and a few dozen parents.

Founded in 1874, St. Stanislaus Kostka School in Noble Square, 1255 N. Noble St., serves students in pre-K through 8th grade.

Jorge Garza, an executive with Franklin Covey, told students and teachers that St. Stan's is now one of 242 Leader In Me schools in the United States and the only one in Chicago.

"You all are beacons of lights," Garza said. 

The Lighthouse status is "a result of the school achieving outstanding school and student outcomes by implementing The Leader in Me, a whole-school transformation model and process — developed in partnership with educators — that empowers students with the leadership and life skills they need to thrive in the 21st Century," according to a news release issued by the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools.

Jennifer Spencer, a third grader who is one of 16 St. Stan's kids on the Leader in Me steering committee is part of the morning announcements team.

"Everyday we do announcements [on the loud speaker]. It feels good. You can get the goodness out and I feel compassionate when doing it," Spencer said.

3rd grader Jennifer Spencer is one of five students on the morning announcements radio team. [DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser] 

The school adopted the Leader in Me program a few years ago under previous principal Marjorie Hill, who was a surprise guest near the end of the assembly, joining current principal Michele Alday-Engleman.

According to a news release, the Leader in Me helps students learn how to become self-reliant, take initiative, plan ahead, set and track goals, do their homework, prioritize their time, manage their emotions, be considerate of others, express their viewpoint persuasively, resolve conflicts, find creative solutions, value differences and live a balanced life.

Kendal Davis, a middle school teacher, said students had to interview for various steering committees, such as the morning announcements team, which has five students on it.

"The goal is that leadership comes from students. What can we put a kid in charge of?" Davis said.

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) introduced a City Council resolution to further honor St. Stan's Leader in Me Lighthouse status. Hopkins was not at the assembly, but the resolution was read aloud by St. Stan's parent Erika Lupacchino.

Lupacchino said her son, a second grader, has taken the leadership principles he's learned at school into the home.

"He's a leader with friends here at school and outside. We appreciate the continuity and consistency of the program and really do value it," Lupacchino said.

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