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Leadership, a Pillar for Success at St. Richard’s School
“The point of learning anything in school is not primarily
to enable one to do well in school…it is to enable one to
do well in life.”—Elliot Eisner, Phi Delta Kappan,
April 2002.
 At St. Richard’s School, the point of learning something
in school is to enrich life outside of school and to acquire the
skills and ideas that will enable one to produce the questions
and perform the activities that one’s outside life will require.
In that regard, we take what we call “growing leaders” seriously;
this concept is part of our daily curriculum. The beauty of an
independent school is the fact that the curriculum is centered
on the child rather than on the material to be covered, although
certainly the material is important too.
The concept of “growing young leaders” fits into
the fabric of a St. Richard’s School day. The natural talents
each student enjoys helps to build up the school community. A student
may be a leader or a good follower; each serves the common good.
Explicit curricular approaches emerge to strengthen students’ appreciation,
an integral aspect of a good leader. In Early Childhood, students
learn who they are in relation to their school and their community.
They participate in assemblies and plays such as the Nativity Play
and Mothers’ Day Bunny. In mini-chapels they learn about
the possibility and the nature of faith in God and in God’s
promises. In Lower School, students demonstrate leadership and
civic responsibility in group and individual actions and examine
ways they may effectively voice opinions and bring about change.
At the beginning of the year, 1st grade students are paired with
8th grade students, otherwise known as 8th grade buddies. These
relationships provide a consistent role model for the younger students
and an opportunity for the older students to embrace the spirit
of being a mentor and positive leader. Whether in the 1st grade
Memorial Day program, the 2nd grade Cowboy Bob production, the
3rd grade International Festival, the 4th grade Famous Hoosiers
puppet assembly, or the 5th grade Richard of Wyck drama, students
are learning leadership styles  and skills. Middle School students
have many opportunities to excel in leadership styles; e.g. 8th
graders compete in the “We the People” Constitution
competition at the state house.
At St. Richard’s, a middle school leadership forum, Growing
Life-Long Leaders, is held each year. A dozen or so middle level
and junior high schools send students to learn about how they can
take responsibility for the common good. Youth Philanthropic Initiatives
of Indiana facilitate the sessions, and there are speakers from
the mayor’s office. Students then take on leadership roles,
and they commit to completing a community service project back
in their own school.
Students in 4th through 8th grades use a variety of information
resources to research and write comments about a position or course
of action on a variety of public issues. Throughout any given day,
students examine the interaction between individual and group behavior.
The older students can analyze the roles and relationships of diverse
groups of people contributing to their community whether in the
school, the surrounding neighborhood, or the city. This year 7th
graders will partner with Meridian Park Neighborhood Association
in celebrating the neighborhood’s 100th anniversary. Students
will be completing academic projects as they get to know the people
who live in the homes near the school. Student Council members
started a “spirit store” this year for the SRS community,
and they are also involved with community service projects and
other authentic leadership opportunities throughout the greater
Indianapolis community.
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