By Al Donner
Special to The Catholic Voice

Holy Rosary School seventh-grader Ayleena Dalmore used to be afraid to speak in front of groups. But asked now if she is still shy, the Antioch pupil instantly answers “not any more!”

Summer Leadership Conference Sixth- through eighth-graders July 27-31 St. Mary’s College, Moraga The Association of Catholic Student Councils www.tacsc.org (925) 954-7048

The difference is the result of leadership skills she is learning in school with other classmates.

On Feb. 5, Ayleena and more than 40 other energetic sixth, seventh and eighth-graders took the next step in building leadership skills at a day-long leadership day.

Sponsored by The Association of Catholic Student Councils (TACSC), the workshop was the return of a nationally successful program to the Bay Area. TACSC is a program designed to provide quality leadership development, encouraging student government, according to Gene Detre, executive director.

TACSC currently has programs in 67 schools in Southern California, other Western states and the East Coast. Until five years ago the program had a presence throughout California. Then a health problem with a key member caused TACSC’s California effort to narrow its focus to southern California.

With the February conference TACSC signaled its return to Northern California, a presence that is expected to expand, according to Detre, a Martinez resident.

Three Oakland diocese schools participated in the February program, Holy Rosary in Antioch, St. Isidore in Danville and the School of the Madeleine in Berkeley. Pupils also came from schools in the San Francisco Archdiocese and the Stockton, Fresno and San Jose dioceses.

Eighth-grader Isabel Havens of the Madeleine sees her role in school leadership as an opportunity “to set an example for younger grades.”

Holy Rosary seventh-grader Dalmore emphasizes that the leadership activities “help you to be able to speak in front of others.”

Holy Rosary colleague Christian Romero has no doubt of its benefit. “Yes! I am a leader!” he responds emphatically with a wide grin when asked if school leadership activities are useful. Holy Rosary’s leadership program has solid support and involvement by parents and school staff members, working with students to do beneficial jobs around the school and to run student government.

The TACSC workshop, held at St. Mary’s College, challenged students by giving them problems to solve collaboratively in a short period. In one exercise, tables of students were presented with an environmental issue and they had to develop either a use for some everyday trash, a public service announcement or a rap song that might convince their peers to be more environmentally aware. Every student had to speak — or sing — during reports on their group’s work. Student confidence grew as the presentations went on, a pattern repeated throughout the day.

“They are learning life leadership skills that they can use in the student council, on the soccer team or in the Scouts,” said Detre. “We believe it will build self-esteem and confidence, serve the schools and the community.”

The TACSC program coordinates with existing student leadership efforts in Catholic schools, giving them the benefit of participating in larger groups.

As a program designed specifically for Catholic schools, Detre notes that “The faith is the basis for a lot of our teaching.”

“We encourage students to think about how would Jesus and the Apostles approach challenges,” Detre says.

The February workshop was the beginning of the TACSC effort to reestablish in Northern California. TACSC staff members and volunteers will be working with leadership programs at interested schools through the rest of the school year.

This summer, a week-long TACSC Summer Leadership Conference will be conducted on the St. Mary’s campus for sixth through eighth-grade students. The July 27-31 camp will teach leadership lessons with a variety of lively activities, including talent shows and spirit rallies.

This fall TACSC will organize another student leadership day to help student leaders improve their skills at the beginning of the next school year.

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