It was a field trip for 31 Indian Hill Middle School (IHMS) student-athletes that was only a short walk away. Thursday, November 7, the younger Braves headed to the Indian Hill High School (IHHS) Cafeteria to join IHHS student-athlete mentors who are part of approximately 50 IHHS student-athletes learning leadership off the field, track, and court. The two groups teamed up to develop leadership skills through group activities.
“This initial collaboration serves as a forum to build bonds between middle school and high school student-athletes while serving as a way to garner true leadership capacity not only in athletics but also in the classroom and the community,” said IHHS Assistant Principal Mike Hayes, one of two administrators leading the program. “Our students are leveraging their learning and leadership to be reflective while actively driving a positive school and community climate. They are discussing real-world scenarios and cultivating positive ways to embrace challenges while doing so with pride and integrity.”
The IHHS and IHMS students discussed the meaning and examples of Pride, Leadership, and Integrity, and the IHHS students guided the younger Braves through scenarios that student-athletes typically face on and off the field. The program will continue within each building; IHMS students were peer-identified as leaders within their grade.
“Ideally, we will meet monthly at Indian Hill Middle School to determine service opportunities,” said IHMS Assistant Principal Cash Hayden, who joined Hayes in leading the program. “Additionally, anytime the high school students are able to meet we will be there. During our first activity, it was apparent that our middle school students look up to our high school students, holding onto their every word.”
“The goal is for this work to continue and for our middle school students to not only be prepared for the challenges that lie ahead but to also pay it forward to our younger students just as our high school students did during this first activity,” said Hayes.
Photo caption: Indian Hill Middle School Assistant Principal Cash Hayden and Indian Hill High School Assistant Principal Mike Hayes joined forces to develop a leadership program for student-athletes.