Project Promotes Success At School
Team Building
Wolf Point was one of only a handful of schools in the entire state selected for a team building project to promote leadership and the spirit of working together.
Kiera Moog of the Montana Office of Public Instruction explains Wolf Point was selected based on a collaboration between Wolf Point’s superintendent of schools Dr. David Perkins, the office of public instruction and Canvas Creek Team Building of Billings.
“The superintendent is doing wonderful things in the community and we wanted to help him build on it,” Moog said.
Karen Grosz, owner of Canvas Creek Team Buildings of Billings, said goals include connecting with students. “Connection is prevention,” she noted. Students, administrators and faculty all took part in the two-day effort last week.
The “Figure It Out” project is twofold including developing stronger connections with students and then developing and empowering leaders. Grosz said the more connected that students are, the less likely they are to drop out of school. Also, connections with others make it easier for students to have tough conversations.
Grosz and Moog were very impressed with the Wolf Point High School students and how they embraced the project. “We keep saying these students are so smart,” Grosz said. “They are forward thinkers and problem solvers.”
Moog added, “These students have surprised us by the number of strengths they have. They are very creative.”
Canvas Creek Team Buildings have worked in the corporate world for more than a decade, but this is the first year involved with going to Montana schools. Grosz is excited about visiting more schools in the future. This year, they went to five rural schools and one urban school in Billings.
Moog noted it’s great when you see a student transform from a shy individual to someone that is walking with confidence.
“We’ve added value to that person,” Moog noted. “It’s priceless.”
She explained that current student receive so much input through social media that they are only one in millions and aren’t really anybody. The project teaches students that they have a voice and that they matter.
