Principal For A Day

Lexi Hellmich sat behind the principal’s desk and wrote the Townline Elementary School announcements. Once the 11-year-old was satisfied with her script she began to recite what she would read.

The Vernon Hills fifth grader was recently chosen to serve as Principal for a Day under the guidance of Townline Principal Victoria Kieffer. As part of her role she read the morning announcements, greeted students entering the building, toured the building, read to students, and evaluated teachers.

Lexi was chosen for the honor after her essay on why making connections was important was chosen by a school team. Three times a year students are chosen from the fifth grade class to serve as Principal for a Day.

“I knew being principal would be really cool. You get to go out to lunch, see the teachers’ lounge and observe classrooms,” Lexi said. Of course with the title came the dire consequences of telling her friends she couldn’t give them a longer lunch period or an extra recess for the day.

The Bernstein Artful Learning Team asked principal nominees in 5th grade to write an essay on the theme of connections. Connections is the significant concept this school year in which students are learning about the importance of making positive connections. Townline follows the Leonard Bernstein Model of Artful Learning, which is to incorporate the arts and the artistic process to increase student engagement and improve academic achievement.  To keep artful learning at the forefront of Townline’s school improvement efforts, students in fifth grade may write an essay and interview for the chance of being Principal for a Day.

“Connections are important. If I didn’t have connections, I’d be lost and lonely,” Lexi said.