Hundreds of local elementary and high school students attended LEAD Challenge Cup events (J. MANDAP & A. PALAZZOLO/University of Windsor)
By Kate Hargreaves
The University of Windsor’s Alumni Stadium was bursting with spirit, cheers and...ducks as the Faculty of Education’s LEAD service-learning classes hosted hundreds of local children for the annual LEAD Legacy Project Challenge Cup.
LEAD — which stands for Leadership Experience for Academic Direction — is a service-learning course first introduced by Dr. Geri Salinitri in which second-year teacher candidates volunteer in schools to work with educators to support student success programming.
In addition to implementing meaningful extracurricular activities over the course of the term, teacher candidates work together to facilitate the LEAD Challenge Cup, bringing together teams of students from each school to compete in a variety of games and activities.
Emily Stanley, an intermediate/senior teacher candidate, called the Challenge Cup "a unique and rewarding experience."
"It emphasized the importance of creating spaces where all students feel included and showed just how meaningful leadership opportunities outside the classroom can be," she said.
"It was especially enriching to see students step outside of their comfort zones, build confidence and really break out of their shells.
While the high school event has been a tradition for over 15 years, this year marked the first time elementary teacher candidates adapted the Challenge Cup model for their students.
Dr. Alyssa Palazzolo, who teaches the elementary section, explained that the inaugural elementary-level event brought together Grade 6 classes involved in the LEAD program, with eight classes and more than 200 students in attendance.
Brittany Yuhasz-Morrison, a primary/junior teacher candidate explained, "the goal was to design activites where success wasn't just about competition but about working together and supporting one another."
Alongside LEAD teacher candidates, instructors Aerin Semus and Alyssa Palazzolo also hosted more than 250 students from 16 local high schools at the secondary school event.
“The event targets students involved in student success programming in high schools who are not typically involved in extracurriculars,” Palazzolo explained.
“Schools bring 15 to 20 students, dressed in school colours with a school banner and cheer.”
This year’s theme was “Lucky Ducks,” with the teacher candidate spirit squad handing out small toy ducks as points to schools.
“Schools compete in a variety of community-building games to earn points for their teamwork, spirit, positivity, collaboration and leadership skills they exemplify,” said Palazzolo. “The team with the most points at the end of the day wins.”
With the entire event planned and run by teacher candidates, Palazzolo and Semus had high praise for the efforts of the BEd students.
“Teacher candidates worked hard to create every part of the event,” they said.
“From fundraising thousands of dollars to provide breakfast and lunch to securing all the resources and materials needed for the day, and — for the first time — assembling welcome baskets that included school supplies, hygiene products, bus passes and many other items to support the school communities with which LEAD has been a part.”
David Hewitt, an intermediate/senior teacher candidate called the experience incredibly rewarding.
"Seeing everything come together and watching students engage and enjoy the event made all that hardwork worthwhile," he said.
Primary/junior teacher candidate Olivia Tocco agreed.
"All the hard work that went into planning, organizing and fundraising was comoletely worth it to see the joy and excitmenet on the students' faces," said Tocco.
To learn more about LEAD and service-learning programs, visit the Faculty of Education website.
