HLI Retreat Kicks Off School Year
The Head of School Leadership Institute (HLI) is comprised of leadership clubs from across campus. Every August HLI gathers to recenter for the start of school through various team-building activities, community service projects, and campus preparations.
This year, students met under the guidance of Mrs. Margaret Price and Mr. John Weaver. Clubs and organizations like the Arts and Athletics Leadership Council, Eagle Ambassadors, Honor Council, Senior Prefects Program, Student Leadership Council, Disciplinary Committee, and Student Government participated in the retreat.
Over the four-day retreat, the students and faculty leaders in attendance were able to participate in community service projects both on and off-campus. Some of the community service opportunities included:
- Sorting food donations and stocking shelves at United Against Poverty
- Cleaning windows and walls at the Orlando Union Rescue Mission
- Helping with clean-up and storage at South Lake Multisport Events
- Calling families and writing thank you notes during the MVA Thank-A-Thon
- Organizing merchandise in the newly renovated school store (Student Center)
- Steaming and hanging flags at the center of campus
- Preparing “Welcome” bags for new residential students
- Stuffing folders in the Enrollment Management Office
- Adding finishing touches to several Upper School bulletin boards and
- Assisting teachers with classroom organization
After completing the community service work, participants were able to enjoy on-campus activities at our theater, lake, pool, and Roberts gym, in addition to team building activities off-campus at Main Event Orlando and Andretti Go Karting and Games Orlando.
This year, our student leaders will focus on modeling behaviors outlined in Habitudes: Images That Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes by Dr. Tim Elmore and the Principles For How We Treat Each Other developed by the Peace and Justice Institute at Valencia College. Both of these texts will be used during the online Leaders in History course required of the students in the HLI program.
“We look forward to building resilience and leadership skills in all our MVA students during the 2021-22 school,” said Mrs. Margaret Price, Assistant Dean of Students for Multiculturalism, Leadership, and Student Programs.
Student lessons from the retreat included (1) moving out of their comfort zone and meeting new people during fun activities and icebreaker games, (2) helping others during the community service opportunities, and (3) reflecting on habits to utilize and improve leadership skills that impact the campus and our communities. On the final day, the students were presented their official HLI jackets, an honorary symbol of their leadership responsibilities.
