Grizzly Leaders are a group at WHS led and created by principal Rich Berlin. They focus on creating a positive impact in and outside of the classroom.
“Its about being positive, being a leader and influencing the people that we interact with everyday on daily basis in a positive way,” said Berlin.
They meet every two weeks on Wednesdays. Each meeting they will do some sort of activity that revolves spreading positivity around the school. Some meetings they will have a lesson that goes over kindness or having a positive leadership role. They also have interactive meeting that are led by upperclassmen who have a seniority role in the group. This involves students learning facts about each other. For example, students in the group received a white slip with a question on it for them to answer.
“It’s [Grizzly Leaders] opened up a lot of opportunities for like leader ship and service roles,” said Mallory Roberts, a senior at WHS who has been part of Grizzly Leaders for a little over two years. “Honestly just the connection I’m making to even just like the principles and students and just like the leader ship that has grown from this.”
Outside of the school the group will deliver donated food to the Salvation Army around Christmas time. They also will have some of their upperclassmen leaders lead pep rallies at the middle and elementary schools as well. They try to help out little by little whenever they can.
At the moment the group consist of almost 64 students and it continues to grow. All students that are interested in joining need to send a email to Berlin.
All grade levels in the high school are permitted to join and participate in the group.
“They [students] just have to want to be in it,” said Berlin. “It’s totally inclusive, there is no criteria. Typically what I have them [students] do is just meet with me, that’s all.” Students from all grade levels have joined the group for different reasons, but they all have the same goal.
“I joined because it was like a good way to show how I am to others in a positive way,” said Sophia Cotter, a sophomore at WHS, who has been in the group since the beginning of the school year.
