6th Graders Attend Student Leadership Day- Stand Up!



On March 20th, three sixth graders and Mrs. Ciok attended Student Leadership Day at the Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie, Illinois.  It was a wonderful day with messages about identity, courage, leadership, and the overall message of "It's ok to be yourself."  The keynote speaker was Olivia Rusk, a teenager with alopecia.  Olivia has been bald since the age of 8, but instead of hiding it, she has embraced it and used it as a forum to talk about self confidence.

On this day, students wrote poems about leadership and courage, defined their identity, visited the Courage and Miller Youth exhibits, and made zines (small self-publications of work in a variety of formats).  Below are examples of the poems and zines created today, along with pictures of the amazing day!




Poem #1:

We could be leaders
By believing in ourselves
Saying what you believe in
YOU can change the world
Have a bright vision
Move people into the right direction
Have the courage and stand up
for others.
Bravery and kindness is key
Make the impossible possible
by being who you are
We could be leaders.

Poem #2:

A role model or leader
has to have courage
but that doesn't mean they're not scared

Sometimes a role model
has to do something that scares them
to lead.

Sometimes,
they have to take the initiative
even if they feel
that they will fail.





Poem #3:
If you're strong,
you are not wrong.
If you're helpful
It is not inconsequential.
If you believe,
You know it's true.
If you succeed
you know you will not rue.
If you made the right choice
You know you won't go back.
If you make the impossible possible
you know you will not lack.
Risk takers go outside of your comfort zone,
Visionaries, you are not alone.



We can all make the impossible possible!



Olivia Rusk

The sixth graders with Olivia Rusk!