As The Leelanau School in Glen Arbor prepares for the coming academic year, Head of School Robert Hansen has a message of shared purpose and transparency built around the school’s goal of fostering student agency and well-being.
“We have to teach students the ways that they can feel in great control of their lives. And so there’s plenty of room to teach them how to factor polynomials and balance chemical equations, but the real priority is to help them feel safe, build self awareness, build self advocacy skills, functioning skills so that the anxiety about their future can be reduced...and you’re not going to have academic success until you have those things,” Hansen said.
Students arrived on campus Tuesday and yesterday to move in before heading out on the annual start of school camping trips. The camping trips are a vital part of the school’s year as they focus on community development and build bonds between students.
