In the Belle Fourche School District, we take pride in empowering every student to become confident, active leaders both in and out of the classroom. We focus on developing essential skills that will support their success as lifelong learners and leaders who uplift themselves and others. Just the same as last year, students in the Belle Fourche Elementary schools this school year have been engaging with an online program called Leader in Me. During the third month of this initiative, we are recognizing students who exemplify the leadership qualities emphasized in the program. Each school day, our young Bronc students practice and study seven foundational habits designed to enhance their personal effectiveness, guiding them toward happiness and enabling them to lead positive change in the world.
The seven effective habits that our schools work to helps students build to be great leaders and role models include:
Our South Park leaders nominated and celebrated this month at our assembly for the month of October for their outstanding leadership skills included:
1st Grade Winners:
Our first winner from 1st grade showed leadership by using habit 2-begin with the end in mind to set goals that she achieves weekly! This leader is Paisley Paris.
The next winner from 1st grade was a leader through Habit 3-put first things first by being a responsible and organized student. He does his best to be a positive leader and can be found with a smile on his face and using his outstanding creativity. This leader is Douglas Daniels.
2nd Grade Winners:
Our first winner from 2nd grade showed leadership using Habit 1- be proactive, habit 3-put first things first, and habit 5-seek first to understand then be understood. She shows that she is in charge of herself by choosing her own weather and is a great listener and friend. This leader is Abygail McKinney.
Our next winner from 2nd grade leads using, Habit 1- Be proactive and Habit 5- Seek First to Understand then Be Understood by taking charge of her choices and listening well. She is also both kind and respectful to her classmates and adults that help her. This leader is Clara Schmeusser.
3rd Grade Winners:
Our first winner from 3rd grade leads in the classroom using habit 4-think win-win by encouraging his classmates to take on challenges and work with them in a positive way. Even when he is faced with difficulties, he has a good attitude and shows that this can make a big difference when doing tough work. This leader is Bridger Lynch.
Our next winner from 3rd grade showed leadership using habit 3-put first things first by understanding how important it is to complete assignments first before other activities. Even when he is presented with a choice between an extra assignment for more practice, or free time, he chooses the assignment to sharpen his skills more. This leader is Brayden Dunn.
4th Grade Winners:
Our first winner from 4th grade was a leader using habit 1-be proactive by being well prepared for class ahead of time and has everything he needs. He also shows habit 3-put first things first by getting his work done first, then moving on to other activities. This leader is Jaxson Brown.
Our final winner from 4th grade used habit 4-think win-win for situations on the playground and in the classroom for any conflicts. Her smile and positive attitude make her a very positive influence and she is always showing responsibility by having her homework completed each week. This leader is Laney Knuteson.
[Shown in top photo: Students of the month for South Park Douglas Daniels, Abigail McKinney, Clara Schmeusser, Bridger Lynch, Brayden Dunn, and Jaxon Brown. Shown in bottom photos: Lainey Knuteson and Paisley Paris.]
Not only did we recognize some of our South Park leaders from each grade, but two North Park Elementary student leaders were also nominated and celebrated for demonstrating overall leadership abilities in alignment with our seven Leader in Me habits! Our North Park kindergarten leaders celebrated for the month of September are Elle Nighswonger from Green Door and Coy Westland from Blue Door ! Way to go Elle and Coy for being great leaders and friends, as well as motivated learners!
[Shown in photos: Elle Nighswonger and Coy Westland with their Leader in Me medals & certificates.]
We are incredibly proud of our South and North Park leaders for embodying these foundational habits in ways that highlight their unique strengths. This month, we celebrated our leaders with not only their own leader medals and certificates, but also a gift certificate for a free DQ Blizzard for South Park Students and a complimentary meal at Applebee’s for North Park Students!
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Belle Fourche families, school staff, dedicated students, and community organizations for coming together to provide the opportunities, tools, and skills that empower our students to thrive and reach their fullest potential. We are also excited for next month’s Leader in Me assemblies at South Park and North Park, where we will celebrate our hardworking young Broncs as they continue to develop essential leadership skills.
Great job, South Park and North Park Broncs! Your commitment to being outstanding leaders and enhancing your skills each month is truly commendable—keep up the fantastic work!