If you drop into the North Cedar Middle School gym any morning between 8:30 and 9, you’ll find most of the kids participating in a fitness program led by their fellow students and supervised by the Vice Principal, Darren Dickie and Roger Douglas, the Principal. Roger has been starting each school day with fitness programs since his first day of teaching 33 years ago.

When I dropped in last week a little before 8:30, kids were already walking counter clockwise around the room and chatting with one another. Directed by three Grade 6 or 7 students, they changed directions on command, picked up the pace to a run and settled down to do a variety of push ups, sit ups and other floor exercises. In all it took about 15 minutes.

Then the young leaders shared the mike and read the school announcements for the day. You could have heard a pin drop, everyone was paying attention. That’s not always the case when announcements are read over a PA into classrooms. There was something about the students being face to face with the readers.

When the announcements were finished, Roger and Darren casually asked the kids if they had any questions or complaints. Only two or three students responded but you could see that this was an everyday event and the vast majority of them would have been comfortable asking a question or airing a complaint if they had one.

With questions answered, the kids were on their way to their classrooms wide awake and ready to go for the day.

Roger sees this morning tradition as a time for him and Darren to connect with the kids. At the same time, it gives teachers an opportunity to work on school and district goals or to discuss things they have learned at workshops or conferences.

This isn’t a time for teachers to do class preparation. It’s a time to explore creative teaching ideas they probably wouldn’t have time to explore during the rest of the day.

So this morning fitness program sure seems to be a win/win/win opportunity for all concerned, students, teachers and administrators.

If you drop by the school at other times of the day, especially at recess, lunch time or after school, you are likely to find kids practicing other leadership opportunities including volunteering in the office, acting as crossing guards, leading dance or gymnastic classes, coordinating the computer room or helping younger kids with their studies. One young chess fanatic recently started and coordinates a chess club.

“If you give kids a chance,” Roger says, “they will rise to the occasion.”

The students at North Cedar Middle School seem to be doing just that.