JUNE 5, 2024

Class V–VIII students go the extra mile to develop skills and gain experience in the Nighthawk Leaders Club.

Three years ago, former Head of Middle School Ms. Amanda Goodwin charged all Middle School professional community members to embark on a “dream project.” This initiative encouraged staff members to reimagine aspects of their roles at Nightingale and pursue projects aligned with the school’s missions, values, and goals.

Born out of her own elementary school experience, PE/Athletics Faculty Coach Michelle Cocchiaro envisioned a space for Middle School students to gain leadership experience in an athletic environment through the creation of the Nighthawk Leaders Club.

“It was important to me to tailor this club specifically for younger Middle School students because this is a pivotal time in their development,” Coach Cocchiaro explained. “By engaging them in leadership roles within an athletic setting, we tap into their natural energy, enthusiasm, and love for physical activity. It’s not just about fostering leadership skills; it’s about creating an environment where they feel empowered to make a difference while having fun.”

Two times per cycle, Class V-VIII Nighthawk Leaders will journey up to the seventh floor gym to assist in Lower School PE classes. Taking advantage of any availability during community time, enrichment, advisory, or study, students will spend time with younger Nighthawks by leading activities, providing peer support, promoting physical activity, and modeling healthy behaviors.

“One of the best things about being a K-12 school is that we have opportunities across ages and grades and divisions for students to get to know each other in a myriad of ways,” Head of Lower Middle School Ms. Rebecca Oshins said. “The Nighthawk Leaders Club allows our Middle School students to embrace being leaders for younger students. They practice time management, communication skills, and empathy for younger students. For the Middle School kids, it’s a chance to be the oldest kids in the room and demonstrate what being a Nighthawk looks like. For the younger kids, it’s an opportunity to see what their future holds. It’s a really special and meaningful program.”

Outside of their assistance in Lower School PE classes, Nighthawk Leaders meet once a cycle to coordinate upcoming schedules with the PE department and teachers, discuss classroom feedback, work on conflict resolution, outline a Middle School assembly, and create inspiring bulletin boards for the sixth and seventh floors.

Each year, all Middle School students are welcome to apply for the Nighthawk Leaders Club. Since the club’s creation in January 2022, its membership has nearly doubled. Interested students must fill out an application form where they explain, in detail, why they want to be part of the club, outline their leadership qualities, share what sports they play, and explain how they can make a difference and why they are a strong applicant. The application also includes a video submission portion where students must explain what being a leader means to them.

In addition, students also have the opportunity to be the group leaders. Grace K. '29 was a leader this past school year. Exceptional Leaders—those who have been part of the club the longest—earn the distinction as group mentors. This past school year, Lyla K. ’29, Lila P. ’29, and Olivia T. ’29 served in this capacity.

“It is important to cultivate leadership skills in Middle School because these are traits we will have moving forward for the rest of our lives,” Exceptional Leader Olivia T. reflected. “We can only grow once our leadership journey begins, so it’s good to start this growth early. You also learn from your mistakes, so if you begin learning in Middle School, it will help us deal with more complicated situations in the future. We will know how to communicate and cooperate with others, a key thing involved with being a leader.” Fellow club member Adelaide C. ’30 shared that since joining the club two years ago, she has become more responsible, developed quicker decision-making skills, and gained greater confidence in public speaking. “Being a leader takes courage and responsibility,” Adelaide said.

This year, Nighthawk Leaders Club students hosted an assembly for their peers in honor of International Women’s Day titled, “Fearless Leaders: Charting Our Path in Leadership.” where they highlighted several female trailblazers and their impact, such as Linda Caicedo, Amanda Gorman, Helen Keller, Taylor Swift, Kelly Yang, and Malala Yousafzai. They also shared powerful quotes from female leaders, discussed why philanthropy is a key leadership characteristic, and highlighted qualities that exemplify leadership, including resilience, confidence, communication, flexibility, and bravery.

“The goal is to build a culture of respect and empowerment,” Coach Cocchiaro said. “Their dedication to celebrating diversity and speaking up for fairness sets a strong example for everyone and shows the power and capabilities of young leaders.”

Stella C. ’31, who joined the Nighthawk Leaders Club last fall, shared that one of her fondest memories as a Nighthawk Leader was this particular assembly— in addition to the ice cream party that followed in celebration of their hard work.

“I’ve become better at projecting my voice,” Stella said, reflecting on her first year. Looking ahead, Coach Cocchiaro hopes that the club will continue to grow and inspire more young leaders to make a positive impact.

“I want it to be a vital part of our school’s culture, where leadership is natural. I hope it reaches students of all backgrounds and interests and evolves with their needs,” Coach Cocchiaro shared. “Ultimately, I want it to be a source of inspiration, empowering students to lead and serve, and creating a community where everyone can thrive.”