CLAS Leadership Academy
The CLAS Leadership Academy is a week-long summer camp designed to provide young adults the opportunity to develop life-long leadership skills in a fun and interactive setting. Seventeen area schools participate on the campus of Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Students spend the week on campus and return home on Friday afternoon.
Griswold Middle School sends 7-8 eighth-graders-to-be (typically an even number of males and females) to participate in the event. Students are assigned to a base group composed of 6-8 students from different schools and directed by a teacher from one of the schools. These base groups are where the majority of instruction takes place on topics such as communication, brain storming, problem solving, different leadership styles, teamwork, and creativity. Base groups also interact with each other frequently during the day at large-group sessions, guest speakers, and recreation fun. Students will become rich in friendships and confidence as they share their experiences with other students. The format provides for a lot of fun and interaction in a casual setting!
Students apply for the leadership academy in April. After a presentation from the Leadership Academy graduates of the previous year, applications are given to interested students. The application consists of parental permission, an essay, and an interview. A committee of teachers and community members determines the students who will represent Griswold Middle School.
Leadership students have been responsible for many activities at Griswold Middle School, including planning each of the quarter reward day, organizing the MS dance, conducting activities for March Middle School Education Month, and 6th grade orientation.
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