BY ALISON ROESKE, YUCAIPA CALIMESA NEWS MIRROR REPORTER
On March 7, Valley Elementary School highlighted the importance of good leadership skills at their eighth annual Leadership Day. The school adopts a teaching and learning approach centered around “Seven plus one Habits” which are: 1) Be proactive, 2) Begin with the end in mind, 3) Put first things first, 4) Think win-win, 5) Seek first to understand, then to be understood, 6) Synergize, 7) Sharpen the saw, and 8) Find your voice and encourage others to find theirs.
“We hope that the students learn to use the Habits in their daily lives as they move on from here to middle school,” Principal Chris Rekstad wrote in a follow-up e-mail.
Rekstad said that throughout the year, the students focus on Wildly Important Goals (WIGs), which address both academic and behavioral objectives. As the year progresses, they work on developing their leadership skills.
The students’ 2025 leadership pledge states: “We are leaders. We dream big and keep our team strong, this is how we get along. Growth Mindset is our priority. We celebrate each other’s victories. We use KAHFOOTY and say kind words, this builds our characters. We help each other to synergize. This is the pledge we memorize. We follow the habits every day, this is how to lead the VIKING way.”
Rekstad clarified that KAHFOOTY stands for “Keep All Hands and Other Objects to Yourself” and the Valley Vikings is the school’s mascot. According to Rekstad, four students gave examples of how the “Leader in Me” program changed their lives, and student groups presented a “Habit Mingle,” which encouraged guests to walk around and listen to short presentations. When they left, guests received Habit bracelets.
The event’s honored guests included Yucaipa Calimesa Joint Unified School District (YCJUSD) Superintendent Cali Binks, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Jim Stolze, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Dr. Jaime Anderson, Yucaipa City Councilman Bob Miller, Captain Michael Walker, Lt. Steve Scovel and Deputy Perez, the Valley Elementary School Resource Officer from the Yucaipa Police Department.