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RANDY PATRICK

Sun Reporter

Desmond Durrum, 7, was wide-eyed with excitement as he leaned out of the car window to watch what was happening up ahead. There, teachers and principals were waving to the kids and greeting them with gift bags filled with games and fun activities they can do with their families as well as lessons on leadership.

The Justice Jaguar mascot was also there, and some dancing pepperoni pizza people.

Leslie Hammer, assistant principal for Justice Elementary School, said last Thursday’s drive-through Leadership Lane is an idea teachers and parents came up with together.

“This is a way to educate the families about the seven habits and help kids take ownership of their learning and stress some leadership while they’re working from home,” said Hammer, referencing the “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” texts by leadership guru Stephen R. Covey and the Leader in Me program. “They’ll have seven weeks to learn about each of the habits, and there’s activities for the families to do at home, one for each habit.”

Casey Banks, mom of Landon and Blake, loved the event.

“It’s a lot of fun for them, and where we haven’t been able to be involved in the school, it’s actually given them something to look forward to and be a part of it,” she said. “They get to learn about all these habits, and it keeps them on their toes.”

Levi Ginn seemed to enjoy the drive-through.

“It’s OK,” he said. “I saw all of my teachers!”

“We are always looking for ways to promote lifelong learning among our students, in the community, at school, and at home,” Robin Kiniry, school counselor, said.

When students attend the event and complete the activities that go along with the Leader in Me program, they earn a free T-shirt, a yard sign signifying their accomplishment and recognition as a true leader.

This has been an unusual year, Kiniry said, but she said the staff hopes the event and program “brings some fun to families and students to brighten their experience” of learning from home.