At The Rivers School

1. RISE Class of 2016 At The Rivers School Reflection and Introspection for Service Education: a Grade 10 Program for personal growth and leadership development with a focus on service and community.

4. VISION “Leadership is being your best self and positively influencing others.” - The Rivers School “Leadership is a function of knowing oneself, having a vision that is well communicated, building trust among colleagues, and taking effective action.” - Warren Bennis, bestselling author, USC Professor

5. ORIGINS Tom Olverson and “THE PIVOT” Gardner Carney Leadership Institute Rivers Leadership Committee Rivers 21st Century Focus Group The All-Star Advisor Team of 2011-2012 (many of whom are with us this evening!)

6. GOALS for RISE 2013-2014 • For students to feel supported in an environment of risk-taking as they continue on a journey of self-discovery. • For students to work towards “achieving” personal goals of self-development and growth using effective tools for feedback and hands-on experience. • For students to work towards a common vision, as established by the class, and collaborate on service projects that include giving back to the Rivers community and beyond. • For the Class of 2016 to work together to explore their group identity, their role at Rivers and their future positive impact on the community. • For the Class of 2016 to achieve these goals through designing and implementing opportunities for service, including the Special Olympics of Massachusetts Basketball Tournament and student – led service initiatives. • For the Class of 2016 to share in many team building and leadership development activities that included orientation and will include grade social nights and class dinners. • For the Class of 2016 to build bridges throughout the community, forging new friendships among themselves, with advisors, and administrators as well.

7. PHASE ONE: Service to Rivers & Beyond How can I use my strengths to positively influence my community through giving back? a. Brainstorm and Teaming Up: What are my passions? What can I do to bring awareness about my cause to the community? (Oct – Dec) b. Making It Your Own: Development and Implementation of Student-led Service and Awareness Initiatives in preparation for RISE DAY 2014 (Jan – April) c. Practice run: 100% Student led Grade Night – Jan d. The Real Deal: The Special Olympics – Feb e. RISE DAY 2014 – April “Adaptive Leadership is the practice of mobilizing people to tackle tough challenges and thrive.” - Ron Heifetz

8. PHASE TWO:REFLECTION & FEEDBACK How am I doing as a leader and team member? How can I better use my strengths for the common good? Personal Goals & Self-Evaluation with Advisor – Sept/Oct Feedback Process a. Choose your people (Dec) b. Choose your focus (Dec/Jan) c. Create your template (Jan) d. Distribute forms (Jan/Feb) e. Forms returned to advisor for one-on-one advisor-student conversation/reflection on feedback process (Feb/March)

9. PHASE THREE:RISE DAY Implementation of Campus-Wide Student-Led Service and Awareness Initiatives RISE meeting with member of Administration - (Headmaster, US Head, MS Head, Director of Student Affairs, Director of Advancement, Director of Admissions, etc): - Who am I? What are my strengths? What have I learned about myself this year? - How can I use my strengths to give back to my community? - Who do I want to be at Rivers these next two and a half years? - What will my legacy be? RISE DAY Class of 2016 Closing Ceremony

10. RISE PROJECTS & INITIATIVES 2011-2012: The R-word Campaign, The Trevor Project, Starfish International, Out of the Darkness, The Giving Project, The Wounded Warrior Project 2012-2013: Rivers School Conservatory Instrument Drive, Sunrise Seniors Painting and Pasta, Heading Home, Chemo Kits for Christopher’s Haven, Autism 4 Athletes, Horse Power, The Wounded Warrior Project Additional Activities on RISE DAY: Kids Care Dinner Kits, Blankets for Cradles to Crayons, Campus Clean-Up

11. RISE by the numbers 5,000 meals created for families in need through Kids Care. Over 2,000 letters written to veterans for Wounded Warrior. Approximately 300 signatures committing to eradicating the R-word at Rivers. 27 musical instruments donated locally. More than 40 blankets created for Cradles2Crayons. 7 Chemo-kits delivered to Christopher’s Haven. 2 non-profit organizations started . . . And counting!

12. RESULT As individuals, your “rising” juniors are well positioned for success in what may be considered their most academically challenging year in high school because they know themselves, their strengths, the areas they wish to develop, how to ask for feedback in order to continue personal growth, and how to both interact with and positively impact the Rivers community. As a class, they have seen each other fail and succeed and have built a foundation of trust and acceptance of risk-taking. They are prepared to craft class goals at the outset of their junior year. They understand their group dynamic, their strengths and weaknesses, and how this will affect their role as a class in our community in the years ahead.

13. RESULT cont’d • Perhaps most importantly, they have strengthened their relationships with themselves, their peers, their teachers, family, and community. “In organizations, real power and energy is generated through relationships. The patterns of relationships and the capacities to form them are more important than tasks, functions, roles, and positions.” - Margaret Wheatley, Leadership and the New Science

14. RISE CALENDAR 2013-2014 AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL RISE DAY! ⌘ Casino Night RISE meetings with Advisor SPECIAL OLYMPICS Grade Night ⌘ Timeline/ Action Plan Due ⌘ ⌘ Service Project Proposals Due ⌘ -Advisory and HR activities: Student – led Service Initiative Work Class Dinner with Co-Pres Speech Orientation: Boston Scavenger Hunt - Prep for RISE meeting w/Admin ⌘ - Feedback Process w/Advisor ⌘ ⌘ - Create Feedback Forms ⌘ -GOAL SETTING with ADVISOR ⌘ ⌘ Opportunity for feedback