Leadership Today, Leaders Tomorrow

Knight Lit Council members at St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School are taking on the initiative and leadership role of a new pilot program in their school. This recent program is an opportunity for students to better their school environment by picking a small target area and researching more about it.

The English Language Learner Mentorship Program is in its early phase and focuses on peers mentoring peers in order to foster an opportunity for growth, both personally and academically. The Knight Lit Council Members meet ELL students regularly and talk about their experience fitting in and how they are doing academically, as well as anything else that the ELL students want to talk about.

This program is connected to the heart of the members, as most of them are ELLs themselves or are second-generation immigrants. This ensures that the Knight Lit Council members can connect well with the ELLs and can find something in common to discuss.

The Knight Lit Council members came up with this idea after attending the STaRs Forum (Students as Researchers) leadership conference, that was held at the Ontario Education Leadership Center in Orillia, Ontario. Students from across Ontario spent three days and two nights talking about issues that matter to them the most and brainstorming possible solutions.

Knight Lit teacher advisor Mrs. Alongi says, “It was great to witness these future leaders as they discussed not only how to make their school community better, but how to change and impact the world, working together, one step at a time.”