Hailey '27 stands after being named a Middle School Buddies Prefect.
Each year, the Junior Moving Up ceremony marks one of the most meaningful moments at Wooster. This event took place on Friday, April 17, and represents both the transition of responsibility from the senior class to the junior class and Wooster's core belief of offering all students leadership opportunities.
The entire Wooster community gathered together, including parents and guardians, and reflected on the seniors’ leadership from the past year, recognizing all of their hard work and commitment, while also highlighting the juniors as they take over and step into their new roles. While at first, the two different classes are recognized individually, the two groups physically switch sides of the room at the end of the ceremony, making the transition visible and emphasizing the responsibilities as they are being passed on.
Aside from this moment, there is a broader idea of what leadership looks like and means in the Wooster Community. Leadership roles are assigned to students in small groups, and they are responsible for taking on projects that correlate with their designated area. The Communications prefects are in charge of running the Wooster Student Life Instagram page, where they update the community on upcoming events and post college decisions and promposals. The Student Ambassador Prefects are in charge of leading tours given to prospective families and helping organize admissions events throughout the year.
The students are also responsible for overseeing their designated space during the jobs period, which is 25 minutes at the end of every school day. This is where they lead underclassmen in tasks to organize and clean a space, where the ultimate goal is to leave it better than they found it.
“Now, the jobs program is our little sandbox,” Mr. Rexford said. “It’s a few minutes, not a huge part of the day, but I hope it permeates the rest of your day. So when you walk into a room, you have the attitude: How do I make this space better?”
Several faculty members, including Mr. Swallen, Dean of Students; Mr. Rexford, the Coordinator of Student Leadership; and Dr. Martin, the Director of Divisions, all described the leadership program as “having intentional practice for life beyond Wooster.”
Students learn how their actions and decisions can affect the community around them. Many faculty members believe that leadership experience is individualized and that every student has a different perspective and end goal.
Every student is aware of their own strengths and weaknesses, and Wooster encourages them to use their challenges to improve.
“For some people, it's just talking to people, and for others, it could be listening or being more self-aware,” said Mr. Rexford.
Leadership at Wooster is centered around developing new skills through reflection, trying new things and helping others.
“It's all about courage,” said Dr. Martin. “You just have to have the courage to have a conversation with someone. You have to have the courage to share an idea that could get shut down.”
A group of juniors after the ceremony.
This emphasises how students are expected to grow into their leadership roles, rather than starting with all of the necessary skills. Many seniors have described this program as a learning process, where they develop all of the vital skills needed to flourish.
“Becoming a student ambassador prefect pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t expect,” said Saje ’26. “I’ve gotten a lot better at communicating and connecting with different kinds of people. It gave me the chance to lead by example and influence the students below me, which is something I take a lot of pride in.”
Juniors who are just stepping into their leadership roles shared how they are looking forward to developing necessary skills and taking on all of the challenges that come with being a leader.
“I hope to be a leader who walks gently and carries a big stick,” said Charlotte ’27. “Kindness as a leader is the most important to me, and I hope to inspire kindness to underclassmen as I step into this new role.”
The skills these students learn connect to the core values of Wooster School: gentle, generous, truthful, kind and brave. They are able to support those around them and contribute to the spaces around them, while also growing personally.
As the torch is passed from one class to another, it is evident that Junior Moving Up is more than just a ceremony, but a chance for students to step out of their comfort zone and take on responsibilities greater than themselves.
