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Mount Carmel School holds student leadership retreat
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Posted on Sep 25 2015
Mount Carmel School’s student leaders got up bright and early on Saturday, Sept. 19, to participate in the school’s Student Leadership Retreat. Held every year, the retreat helps students grow as leaders and gives them the opportunity to work together to plan all school activities for the school year.
The retreat was facilitated by the school’s Student Council, led by its president, Thomas Lee A. Manglona II. After starting with a prayer and a group-building energizer, Manglona inspired student leaders with observations about what young leaders can accomplish. He did so by sharing a video about Malala Yousafzai, the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize who turned her tragedy of being shot by the Taliban into a crusade for female education across the world. Pointing to Malala’s example, Manglona urged his fellow student leaders to stand up and make a difference.
Student Council officers work with class and club officers to plan out events for the entire school year. (Contributed Photo)
After Manglona’s remarks, school president Galvin Deleon Guerrero shared some tips on how to effectuate change in school and beyond. Drawing from the work of Chip and Dan Heath in their book Switch, Deleon Guerrero used the latest discoveries in brain and behavioral research to suggest effective ways that students could motivate and change the behavior of their peers.
After Deleon Guerrero’s presentation and a short break, student leaders and their teacher advisers got down to work, planning out the entire school year. Going through week by week, Student Council officers worked with clubs, classes, and organizations to schedule activities for the year. Whenever conflicts emerged, students were ushered aside to work out alternatives and solutions. By the end of the retreat, student leaders had successfully planned out the entire year.
Student Council vice president Markel Toves was pleased with the results of the retreat. “[It] was amazing and a complete success in terms of planning out the school year,” he said.
In particular, he appreciated Deleon Guerrero’s discussion on how student leaders can switch behavior. “Being a teenager, I tend to slack off and feel lazy, but learning more about how to motivate myself and others was very helpful.” (MCS)
