THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 16, 1996 TAG: 9608140141
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 3E EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 49 lines
Student leaders from six Chesapeake high schools and three middle schools spent two days at Virginia Wesleyan College in Virginia Beach recently, discussing school problems, suggesting solutions and developing leadership skills.
The 71 students were part of the first Chesapeake Leadership Workshop, a program intended to help make them better leaders.
Glenn L. Koonce, director of pupil discipline and student activities for Chesapeake Public Schools, said the program was designed also to increase student commitment and participation and to improve the citywide student activities program. The workshop was modeled after a program Virginia Beach has offered its students for 29 years.
The plans for the workshop began in May when Koonce recruited Nancy L. Sayer, a new Oscar F. Smith High School sociology and psychology teacher, to coordinate the event. Sayer recruited 10 college students from Chesapeake to be her staff.
``Lighting Our Future Torch'' was selected as the theme of the event. The workshop covered problem-solving, holding effective meetings, parliamentary procedure, leadership style, personal philosophy and etiquette.
During the first session, students were assigned to groups that included students from other schools they had not met before.
``The purpose was to separate friends, blend ideas, and discover the similarities and differences that each school has and to make new friends,'' Sayer said.
The students were assigned to councils representing China, Nigeria, Ireland, Mexico, France and Columbia. Each council had meetings and assignments such as creating a chant, planning a skit and sharing school concerns. One of Sayer's college staff counselors monitored each group session to provide instruction and guidance.
Holly Hoyle, 15; Chris Pavona, 14; Erin Claggett, 17; Jenna Lewis, 17; Crissy Ward, 17; Michael Sherwood, 16; Jessica Scott, 16; Corey Wood, 15; and Peggy Stocks, 15, formed the Hickory High School team. They talked about school spirit, opening day, electing class officers and student input. And a big issue was the welcoming of students from different areas to Chesapeake's newest high school.
``We have to have a blending of Deep Creek and Great Bridge'' Stocks said. ``Not us against them.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Chesapeake middle school and high school students listen to Karen
Culpepper, a counselor in the first Chesapeake Leadership Workshop. by CNB