Learning Leadership and Their First Overnight
This May, excitement was building at LION Elementary School as our third-grade scholars prepared for their first-ever overnight educational experience at Club Getaway. For many students, this was a big milestone: trying new challenges, building confidence, and spending a night away from home with classmates and trusted adults by their side. It was also a natural extension of the strong foundation our scholars develop every day through LION’s Character Program.
At Club Getaway, students took part in hands-on, character-building experiences that brought our values to life. Through team challenges, leadership activities, collaborative games, and community-building moments, students strengthened communication, confidence, independence, and problem-solving. Just as importantly, they learned what it looks like to encourage a peer, ask for help when they need it, and celebrate one another’s growth. Spending time together outside the classroom allowed them to deepen relationships with classmates and teachers and helped students return to school feeling even more connected.
This experience is closely aligned with LION’s signature practices that shape student life every week. During biweekly School Meetings, students and staff come together to discuss issues impacting our school community, the Bronx, and the world around them. In biweekly LION Pride sessions, students practice self-reflection and engage in thoughtful feedback conversations with peers and teachers. Through Leadership Lions, scholars are recognized by classmates for the initiative, leadership, and support they show across our community. The overnight experience provided a chance for students to put these habits into action in a new setting, with new responsibilities and new opportunities to lead.
We are deeply grateful for the community support that helped make this experience possible. This year’s Winter Social was a huge success, raising nearly $9,000 and counting toward this overnight experience and future elementary school programming. Thank you for investing in moments that help our students grow into confident, caring leaders.
