Although there was no school for Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo USD 327 due to President’s Day, 60 Ellsworth Elementary School second through fourth graders spent Monday at the school learning leadership and having fun at the Bearcat Youth Leadership Academy.

“We like it because it gives our students the chance to be leaders themselves,” said Kendra Ploutz, EES fourth grade teacher and coadvisor of the Bearcat STUCCO group, along with Christina Vague of Ellsworth Junior-Senior High School.

“I think that everyone as a whole can leave the day knowing that a leader is not just one thing. There’s different traits that leaders have, but two leaders can be very different people. All of us have our strengths, all of us have our weaknesses. But through growth, practice and even just thinking about making conscious decisions, you can strengthen all of those things.”

“Our students first understand what it truly means to be a leader,” Vague said. “Because sometimes around your peers, your leadership skills are not tested. But when you’re trying to corral 12 kids and get them to go in one direction, that’s how true leadership is earned. I think that helped our kids give better directions, explain things better and make sure they are getting their points across.”

Now in it’s third year, Ploutz said the idea for the Bearcat Youth Leadership Academy came about after members of the student council attended a summer workshop organized by the Kansas High School Activities Association at Emporia State University in Emporia.

“There is a high school in Derby that puts on something similar, so we piggybacked off the idea,” Ploutz said. “We thought President’s Day would be the perfect day for it because it’s a no school day for the total district.”

At the beginning of the day, students were divided into four teams — the red team, blue team, orange team and yellow team. Each team has its own mascot with a distinct, identifiable leadership trait.

The teams were led by student council members from Ellsworth Junior-Senior High School. The captains taught their teams about leadership skills, including organization, teamwork, communication, perseverance, problem solving, and the difference between reporting and tattling.

“They have games, stories and different activities that go along with all of the skills that help to reinforce it,” Ploutz said.

The day culminated with an Olympics, where more exciting games were played by the teams.

Ploutz said each of the 60 students paid $25 to attend the academy. They also receive a workbook, t-shirt, lunch and snacks. Sponsors also helped make the academy a success.

Funds raised from the academy, in part, will be used by EJSHS student council members to attend this summer’s Emporia State workshop to work on their own leadership skills.

“I love this,” said Hayden Rogers, EJSHS STUCCO president, as he led the orange team through a leadership exercise. “It’s great because it’s teaching all these students different skills and leadership qualities.”

“I like it,” said Izzy Tripp, EES fourth grade student, orange team member, and third year academy attendee. “I think it’s fun.”

Tripp said while she liked the whole experience, her favorite were the times her team worked together.

Just down the hallway, Parker McGowan, EJSHS STUCCO secretary, prepared his red team, the Awesome Opossums, for another leadership challenge.

“I really enjoy it,” McGowan said, noting his favorite part is seeing the enthusiasm in the faces of the students as they play the different leadership games.

“It gives the kids at the elementary school a good opportunity to learn more leadership skills to bring into their future careers, education and everyday life.”