A fantastic experience for our children, teachers and parents was how Mrs Garita Coddington, Principal of Francis Patton Elementary School described last week’s visit to two Elementary Schools.

Twelve children from the school’s Student Lighthouse Team, along with six adult members of the Senior Lighthouse Team and parents, visited two schools in Ronkonkoma, Long Island — Lynwood Avenue Elementary School and Merrimac Elementary School.

Both schools received their Lighthouse School status in February 2015.

Day 1

The travelling team arrived at the hotel and had time to prepare for the school visits.

Day 2

Leadership Manhattan Adventure Day — Children and parents enjoyed the thrilling Long Island Railroad train into New York, with a bus tour of the city that included views of the new Freedom Tower on the site of the former World Trade Centre and other famous landmarks, which they had read about in their preparation for the tour, including Rockefeller Centre and the Empire State Building.

They also visited Madame Tussauds in Times Square — a never to be forgotten experience for many children, where they saw figures of many of the most famous people in the world.

“The boys and I especially all wanted our picture taken with Lionel Messi” said Mrs Coddington.

Day 3

Lighthouse School Visit #1: The children and adults were welcomed to Lynwood by the Lighthouse Team and participated in different activities including eating a pizza lunch in the school cafeteria.

Each adult was responsible for giving feedback and praise to their students based on the visit, commenting on how they interacted especially in relation to eye contact and manners, and how they set goals for the visit and tracked if they were achieved during the day.

Later, back at the hotel, the visiting Francis Patton team had a debrief, first adults with their students, and then the Head Student leaders spoke about the strengths and opportunities observed during the visit.

Deputy Principal Shequita Parson said: “Lynwood’s academic leadership environment was clearly evident through each class having termly academic and leadership goals posted, and the way the bulletin boards spoke to both the seven habits, and the academics, embedded in one.”

Day 4

Leadership School Visit #2 — The Francis Patton team was greeted by Merrimac Elementary’s School Band who provided music to welcome the Bermuda visitors.

During the visit the children and staff completed a ceiling-tile project using the hand prints of Bermuda’s leaders, which they will display at the entrance of their school.

It was interesting that around the school you could see different maths and ELA concepts displayed all over the ceilings of the classrooms.

Throughout the day every Francis Patton student had a journal to complete. The pre-visit discussion had had them set goals for the visit and note down anything that they thought they might like to share with the students.

Merrimac staff commented on how studious Francis Patton students were with being proactive, prioritising taking notes and asking a lot of questions.

Quotes from one or two children included “the school was so beautifully decorated with the Seven Habits language with pictures and quotes.

“I noticed that all the students are like us at Francis Patton, they use eye contact and have good manners.”

Another student shared how they enjoyed the Q and A part of the visit during the day’s reflection time: “Merrimac and Francis Patton students got to share the win-win things we learnt from each other.”

PE/Art and Social Studies teacher Mrs Sharpe-Trott said: “Leadership has been embedded and portrayed throughout all aspects of the curriculum to develop a confident, inspired student leader.”

At the end of the day the entire school lined the driveway outside, with the Bermuda children saying “goodbye and bon voyage!

“The whole visit was a tremendous educational experience for our children, teachers and parents.

“We shall keep in touch, exchanging educational ideas with them throughout the year and forming a partnership to support each other to continue to grow leaders’ one child at a time,” said Mrs Coddington.

Day 5

Travel Back to Bermuda — The 90-minute bus ride to the airport had the entire team reflecting on the trip., and parents said they were overjoyed that they had been a part of the experience.

One parent said: “It was awesome to see how the boys I was chaperoning made a frame of reference that was slightly different after their synergistical visit to the schools.

“They knew the standards, expectations and outcomes that Francis Patton had.”

Another parent said: “Every day we began with the end in mind, children were always the focus.

“All activities planned by the two Student Lighthouse chairpeople, Mrs Kimeko Roberts and Mrs Wendy Tully, were age-appropriate.

“Students got to see their teachers and principal in a different win-win environment.”

PTA president Mrs Shavonna Simpson said: “At first the PTA was sceptical about how much of the PTA budget was put towards the school’s overseas educational experience; however, by me going, seeing and talking with other PTA members from each school, I can say it was money well spent.

“Francis Patton is on the way to becoming a great institution that will look to merge with evidence everywhere as to how we grow academically and as leadership scholars on a daily basis.”

The Superintendent of Schools Mr Noland had introduced “The Leader In Me” principles to his district of 18 schools. He had all of his schools implement them into the daily lives of the children, with each school having an average of 400 students and at least 70 staff members.

Mr Nolan explained, “Teaching children the principles of leadership and fusing into their everyday language, curriculum and interaction with others is what will change our world.”