Leadership & Character
Developing Leaders
Beginning with our youngest Highlanders, developing strong moral character is a focus of our mission. Building that strong foundation guides the evolution of leadership within a child as they grow and mature. We believe an essential part of cultivating character is for students to learn to lead by first learning to serve.
Annual Day of Service
Heart of a Highlander
Each year, Highlander PreK through 12th-grade students and their families volunteer their time, skills, and talents to deserving charities across Central Florida. We are proud to say that the event has grown over the years to the point that today, more than 1,400 Highlanders help 30+ nonprofit organizations, contributing over 3,500 service hours in one Annual Day of Service.
Lower School
Fruit of the Spirit
Lake Highland’s continuum of leadership learning begins with the Fruit of the Spirit. Listed in Galatians 5:22-23, they are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Planting the seeds of this fruit helps us cultivate students’ character and develop them into compassionate, empathetic, and courageous leaders.
Leadership Opportunities
As students progress through Lower School, there are several opportunities to lead, ranging from adopting reading buddies and being elected as Student Council officers to being selected as morning patrols who escort younger students from vehicle drop-off to their classrooms.
Middle School
When students enter Middle School, opportunities for leadership development abound. Students meet with faculty and staff for mentorship in small groups up to three times a month and can opt to become student mentors to Highlanders in Lower School.
A few of our Middle School programs for leadership include:
Goodfinders
As students consistently and positively contribute to the Middle School environment of love, concern, and mutual respect, they are nominated by teachers to be “Goodfinders.” This select group of students exemplifies what it means to radiate kindness and selflessness, leading others to a greater understanding of community. Goodfinders are recognized quarterly by the president of the school, parents, students, and teachers.
Highlander Heralds
This program is designed to develop individual leadership skills. The Heralds represent the LHP Middle School, serving as ambassadors to campus visitors and helping welcome new students during open houses and admission events. Heralds also organize school-wide fundraising and disaster relief efforts, and they represent the voice of the student body. Because of the Heralds' contributions to the school, they are often the first voices we hear in the morning, leading our Pledge of Allegiance, the daily prayer, and announcing birthdays each morning.
Field Trips
Middle School students also hear from guest speakers throughout the year and attend a field trip in both 7th and 8th grade, which helps them cement and apply the leadership skills they are learning in the classroom.
Upper School
Leadership development opportunities continue to expand in the upper-level grades at Lake Highland. Seventy clubs and organizations are led by students and overseen by a faculty advisor. Upper School students serve as mentors to younger students. They rally school spirit and a sense of community. They lead teams and organizations, shadow professionals, become independent thinkers, and respectfully stand up for what they believe.
Leadership Academy
All juniors and seniors are invited to attend Lake Highland’s summer capstone leadership program, Outdoor Odyssey. In the mountains of western Pennsylvania, more than 100 students work together to overcome obstacles, faithfully support each other, confront personal challenges, and sharpen their leadership skills. Highlanders return to campus energized and prepared to serve as ethical leaders for their fellow students.
