Chris Puglia
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 18/02) - What makes a leader? Over 50 middle school students from William McDonald and Range Lake North schools explored that topic this week during a leadership retreat held at the Trappers Lake Spiritual Centre.

The two-day retreat that began on Wednesday focused on developing good leadership qualities.

"They are developing virtues such as respect, honesty, responsibility and patience," said Adam Bunin, William McDonald vice principal.

One of the ways the school promotes the development of those virtues throughout the school year is by offering leadership development and learning opportunities all year long. "Students volunteer at Aven Manor, students organized the leadership retreat, and the new playground (at William McDonald) that was put up by students, helped organize that," said Bunin.

However, Bunin said it was unfortunate that after all the work the students put into organizing the playground construction, including an evening public meeting, they were not allowed on site to help with the actual construction.

Other projects that could be in the works under student direction are a district wide middle school leadership conference and a year end activity, such as a dance, for all district Grade 8 students.

"That way the kids can get to know each other before they meet in Grade 9," said Bunin.

The students attending the conference were primarily part of student government, but a few were nominated as leadership development students.

During the conference the students attended workshops on leadership development put on by teachers who will be attending a middle school conference in Portland, Oregon.

Youth leaders

Garrett Cochrane, Range Lake North Grade 8 president, Julie Hintz, William McDonald Grade 6 class representative, and Jessica Marriott, William McDonald Grade 8, were among the students at the retreat.

Hintz said the retreat has been a positive experience.

"It's a way to find out ideas from people and what the other classes think," she said.

Each of them believe it's important for youth to get involved in leadership activities not only because they will one day be leaders on a grander scale, but because students need a voice too.

As class president Cochrane knows what it is like to organize events and get things done. It is for that reason he believes youths need strong leaders.

"We need people to help out on a lot of things. Our school would fall apart without leadership," he said.

Marriott is one student who visits the Aven Manor from time to time and she believes that act is very important.

"People need help and at the Aven Manor. They go for months without seeing their own children and they want people to come and talk to them," she said. This is the second year the leadership retreat has been held and last year students developed a mission statement and a vision to outline the traits and virtues they believe are a part of effective student leadership.

"Leadership is a person who shows leadership when they help people by setting trends, solving problems and directing people.

This is done in a fun but respectful and responsible way, all while listening to others," the vision statement read.

Bunin said he thought it was a powerful statement that students were able to develop that vision of leadership on their own.