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Greenville City Schools
WAVE Leaders at South Middle School
From Rhonda Schaar

What does it mean to be a WAVE Leader?  Students who join WAVE Leaders at South Middle School have an opportunity to give to their community while meeting WAVE Expectations.   WAVE Expectations is the positive behavior and intervention system at South MS that guides behavior expectations for students in all areas of the school.  Students are taught, retaught and acknowledged for appropriate behavior by showing: We are respectful, Always responsible, Very kind, as well as Excited and ready to learn.  In joining the WAVE Leaders, students are able to apply these expectations in an opportunity to serve their community. 

WAVE Leaders began in the early 2000’s under a different name and at a different building within GCS.  This engaging and valid learning opportunity for students has evolved to what we need students to know and do for the 21st Century by building a sense of community through service.  This service learning group was initially titled the Ladies and Gentlemen’s Club at North School.   Principal Maureen McDonough and then teacher Lisa Maher created this group to help students develop leadership skills and relationships with those of another generation.  These students were encouraged to build a sense of community through service and adopting a grandparent.  Students were separated by gender during the activities.  Once a month students were bused to the Brethren Retirement Community.  Boys went for breakfast while the girls traveled over for lunch.  Students learned appropriate manners, served residents, and developed intergenerational relationships.  Students were able to read to residents, escort them to the fair and walk them around the home as well as other activities.   Students also met once a month during an extended homeroom to work on arts and crafts to share with their adopted grandparents.

When North School was consolidated to the current Middle School system of 5th and 6th grade at South School, the Ladies and Gentleman’s Club continued their service by walking at least once a month after school to the BRH as well an additional meeting a month for continued etiquette activities with arts and crafts.  They also had field trips to local venues such as Fairlawn and Maid Rite to learn table manners, ordering protocol and other etiquette. 

In the last few years, the Ladies and Gentleman’s Club name was changed to WAVE Leaders continuing with their service vision to after school while expanding their leadership responsibilities at South MS.  Teachers Nancy Person, Nan Hottle, Mindy Kissinger, Karen Magoteaux and Mary Petry continued with previous activities while expanding the role of the WAVE Leaders.  WAVE Leader activities include:  leadership for South’s involvement in homecoming activities, escorting parents during conferences, reading special announcements for holidays, organize activities for celebrations and work for the betterment of the community. 

For the current year, WAVE Leaders will be under the supervision of teachers Emily McIntyre, Chad Curtis, Tiffany Oswalt and Shannan Miller.  The planned activities this year include visits to the Brethren Retirement Community every third Thursday of the month to participate in activities with an adopted grandparent.  One example of a monthly activity is reverse trick or treat.  Students will dress up and pass out treats to the residents.  The residents look forward to this yearly activity and are thrilled to see the children dressed up in fun outfits.   WAVE Leaders will continue with leadership at the homecoming parade and spirit week, parent teacher conferences and holiday activities.  The sponsors are planning two food bank drives this year to support the increasing needs in our community.   One drive will coordinate with the beginning of the holiday season this December and the other is scheduled for April.  WAVE Leaders will encourage their peers’ participation by organizing a classroom competition. 

During the first semester the initial WAVE Leaders are 6th graders.   During the second semester, 5th graders are invited to join the group allowing the 6th graders an opportunity to mentor the new members.  The following year the mentored students become the first semester WAVE Leaders providing trained school wide leadership.

The membership of this service group has ranged in size from 30 to more than 80 students each year.  Many students have continued their volunteer work at the Brethren Retirement Community beyond their middle school career.  Some have continued their education to include nursing or work in geriatrics based on their experiences in this middle school service opportunity.   Research supports service learning in the positive development and growth of children. (http://www.servicelearning.umn.edu/info/benefits.html) 

The skills the children learn through their membership in this group provides lifelong skills of leadership and empathy with others.  Students have a greater understanding of their community and the needs of others as well as their role to make a difference.  As the Civil Liberty Project from 2002 explains, “the benefit of service learning helps the community but the greatest benefit is for the individual student”.   Children develop self-esteem, a sense of belonging and a role of responsibility to the larger community in which they live. 

Make sure you recognize WAVE Leaders of South Middle School and what they give back to the Greenville Community!!

Thanks to retired teacher and former WAVE Leader supervisor Nancy Person as well as current teacher and WAVE Leader supervisor Emily McIntyre for their contributions to this article. 

Principal South MS
rschaar@greenville.k12.oh.us


 
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