Leading the Way - November 13, 2025

Leading Moments - Indian Hill Middle School

Enlightenment Through Leadership

In one of his latest Social Studies lessons, Mr. Bell used the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as a doorway into a deeper discussion about Enlightenment philosophy. Rather than focusing only on memorizing amendments, students explored how ideas like natural rights, the social contract, limited government, and separation of powers shaped the founding of the United States.

Mr. Bell then pushed students to apply these ideas to their own lives through the lens of self-leadership and create a personal analogy to this concept. Just as Enlightenment philosophers encouraged individuals to think for themselves and question absolute authority, students were challenged to see themselves as responsible decision-makers.

They discussed how leading themselves—managing their choices, actions, and treatment of others with integrity and empathy—makes them more capable of helping and leading others. In this way, the lesson linked the principles that formed a nation to the personal habits and character traits that help students grow into thoughtful, empowering leaders in their school and community.

Marvelous, Messy Molecules: Exploring the World of Polymers

In Mrs. Klosterman’s science class, students engaged in a highly interactive, hands-on exploration of polymers. As they mixed and manipulated materials to create their own homemade polymers, they revisited foundational science concepts, including the properties of matter and how scientists define and classify substances. The lesson centered on answering a key question—what exactly is a polymer?—and students learned that polymers are long chains of repeating molecules, which help explain why these substances stretch, bounce, and behave in such unique ways.

The classroom was appropriately messy and full of energy as students eagerly experimented with the texture, stretchiness, and shape of their creations. Through guided discussion and observation, they practiced categorization by comparing the different polymers they made and connecting their hands-on experience to scientific vocabulary and ideas. The excitement was evident: students were not only having fun, but also building a deeper understanding of abstract concepts through direct, tactile investigation.

Claim, Evidence, Reasoning: Teen Health on Trial

In Mrs. Paula Fahrenkamp’s class, students put their critical thinking and collaboration skills to work using the—Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning framework—to construct and defend thoughtful arguments about whether caffeine and social media are good for teen health. Each student shared their claim with tablemates, explored both sides of the issue as they gathered evidence, and made sure everyone at the table stayed engaged and on task.

This structure not only deepened their understanding of teen wellness and strengthened their ability to communicate with evidence-based reasoning, but also served as a powerful example of self-leadership, as students practiced being proactive and keeping the end in mind while working together on a real-world topic that impacts their daily lives.

Beyond the Periodic Table: Growing Thinkers, Leaders, and Teammates

In Dr. Given’s science classroom, students are diving deeply into the world of elements, compounds, and the properties of matter while strengthening their skills as thinkers and collaborators. Recent lessons have centered on the Periodic Table of Elements, giving students a framework for understanding how and why different substances behave the way they do. Each day begins with a driving question—such as how to distinguish an element from a compound or why certain elements react the way they do—or a random question about the topic that the class collectively investigates.

Students gather data, share observations, and explain their thinking to peers, transforming the classroom into a community of young scientists learning from one another.

Beyond the content, students are intentionally developing as reflective learners and leaders. They have been writing personal goals and considering how they embody the 5C’s when working with others, using real classroom interactions as opportunities to practice skills like communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Throughout the hands-on investigations, Dr. Given is purposeful in guiding students through the design thinking process: defining the problem, brainstorming ideas, testing approaches, and iterating based on what they discover. This blend of rigorous science content, structured reflection, and problem-solving not only helps students understand matter at a deeper level, but also equips them with the mindset and habits needed to tackle complex challenges beyond the classroom.

Shout out to this group of Braves below that are working on building a moon colony using Minecraft for one of their projects; they couldn't wait to share it with me!

Majestic Orcas, Heroic Veterans: A Powerful Day in 6th Grade

In Mrs. Roark’s 6th grade class, students kicked off the day by sharpening their text analysis skills as they dove into an engaging article about killer whales. Together, they explored what makes these animals both majestic and ferocious, pulling out key details, vocabulary, and evidence from the text. Each student shared a fact connected to the reading while Mrs. Roark captured their thinking on the whiteboard, creating a collective bank of ideas. Students then began shaping these insights into their own personal writing, strengthening both their comprehension and written expression.

In honor of Veterans Day, the class then shifted to a heartfelt tribute. Students who have family members who served in the armed forces were invited to share a story or detail about their loved one with the whole class. The room was filled with pride, respect, and positive energy as students spoke about their families’ service and sacrifice. It was a powerful moment that blended literacy, reflection, and gratitude—making the day both academically rich and deeply meaningful.

Jeff Damadeo, Director of K-12 Leadership & Career Development

Jeff.Damadeo@ihsd.us

Twitter: @indianhillEC

My #IHPromise - to work tirelessly for our students, providing them with the most exceptional educational opportunities & experiences to help ensure that they develop into outstanding academic students and future ready individuals!