Growing leaders for the future
Brescia House School hosted over 200 grade 11 pupils from 14 Catholic schools for a leadership workshop on the 10th September. This event, the fourth that Brescia House has hosted in conjunction with the Catholic Schools Office, brings together schools from across Gauteng to listen to engaging speakers and participate in collaborative breakaway groups.
At Brescia House we believe that leadership is not something easily taught, but rather needs to be developed through experiences and guided personal reflection. These workshops are valuable for pupils to engage with leadership concepts and share their thoughts and experiences with their peers in other schools.
Our first speaker, Mr Lloyd Ripley-Evans, a psychologist and author, challenged pupils to interrogate what they understand the purpose of leadership to be, for themselves, and in their schools. Pupils then had to consider how their understanding of themselves, and the quality of their relationships within their leadership team, are important to successfully leading others. In inter-school groups, pupils debated the different meanings of leadership in their schools and arrive at there own personal understanding of what it means to be a leader.
Dr Marisa Di Terlizzi, a psychologist, teacher, and current Head of De La Salle Holy Cross College Junior School worked with the pupils on understanding themselves better. In groups, pupils then had to look at their strengths and what will potentially hold them back in their leadership roles at school.