Kempenfelt Bay School (KBS) is proud to recognize Grade 8 student, Harper Reid, for her outstanding Leadership in Action project in support of the Busby Centre, a local organization serving individuals experiencing homelessness.
As part of KBS’s Leadership in Action Certificate program, Grade 8 students are required to design and implement an independent community service project. Harper’s initiative, titled Share the Love, mobilized the entire KBS community in a schoolwide donation drive.
The results were extraordinary:
- 479 pair of socks to help prevent cold-related injuries and infections
- 806 additional essential items, including water bottles, snacks, hats, shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, lotion and deodorant
- 1,285 total donations collected for immediate distribution through the Busby Centre's outreach programs
During a celebratory assembly, Harper presented the donations to Maya and Steph, Busby Centre Board Members, expressing gratitude for the generosity of the KBS community A friendly inter-class competition further energized participation, with Grade 4 earning top honours and a pizza party.
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The Leadership in Action program at KBS requires students to complete a minimum of 30 community service hours, maintain a leadership portfolio, and execute a mentored independent project. Through this capstone experience, students investigate community needs, take meaningful action, and reflect on their impact.
Reflecting on the experience, Harper shared, “This project showed me that leadership is about helping others. Seeing our school come together to support the shelter made me realize how much of a difference we can make when we work together as a community.”
Harper’s project exemplifies the program’s mission: fostering responsible citizenship, empathy, and a deep understanding that leadership is a process rooted in service. As echoed in the Busby Centre’s motto, “Everybody is Somebody,” the KBS community demonstrated that collective action can create tangible change.
