Nichole Smith, Montverde Academy
The Head of School Leadership Institute (HLI) is a dedicated group of students who have spent the past two weeks actively contributing to campus life and the broader community. The focus of HLI is to equip Upper School student leaders with the necessary tools that support Montverde Academy’s mission, explicitly focusing on:
- Expanding cultural competence and global vision,
- Developing character programs and student mentorship opportunities,
- Inspiring personal leadership and accountability,
- Bringing the MVA community together by increasing school spirit, and
- Growing community service partnerships with local/global organizations.
As part of their orientation duties, these students have been touring families around campus and assisting with various tasks to ensure a smooth transition for new members of the school. Some of the projects they worked on were:
- Greeting new boarding students,
- Assembling 500 new iPads in protective cases,
- Helping with faculty childcare,
- Decorating bulletin boards,
- Working in the Student Center,
- Hosting New Day Student Orientation, and
- Delivering snacks to teachers and coaches on the HLI Snack Cart.
HLI members have also been planning the Upper School Social, which they will host on August 16 for all Upper School students.
Beyond their on-campus responsibilities, HLI members engaged in meaningful service projects in partnership with Advent Health. Their efforts include making eye covers for NICU babies as part of the “Hide My Eyes” initiative and assembling bereavement boxes to support mothers who have experienced the loss of a child. They also created “Hearts of Love” for mothers with babies in the NICU and crafted tiny caterpillars, known as “Readathon Bookworms,” to encourage reading in hospital rooms.
In addition to these service projects, the HLI students brought joy to members of the Group Life Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that works to enhance the lives of individuals with special needs residing in Group Homes within Lake County. HLI members and members of Group Life played a fun, engaging game of BINGO, further demonstrating HLI’s commitment to serving others.
HLI’s involvement in these activities reflects their leadership, compassion, and dedication to making a positive impact. Through their service, they have not only supported families in need, but also fostered a sense of community and empathy within their own group. Their work exemplifies the values of HLI, setting a strong example for their peers.
