Students file into the auditorium, prepared to watch junior Physical Education (PE) leaders perform their carefully choreographed dances, which experiment with different dance styles, as part of a competition. This year, junior Briana Cornoiu and her dance partner, junior Anthony Spalo, won the dance competition in their Blue 4 PE class.

The PE Leader Program is a two-year commitment that begins junior year, Zach Walker, PE and Drivers Education Teacher, said. Each year, students in the program participate in a dance unit where juniors learn choreography and compete against other PE Leaders, Cornoiu said. Leaders practice styles like Salsa with partners before performing in the auditorium. The experience helped bring students of different grade levels together, Cornoiu added.

“Most of us in the class are not dancers, so the unit made us more tight knit because we were all learning something relatively new and being pushed outside of our comfort zones,” Cornoiu said. “I really felt a sense of community knowing that we were all going through it, learning the dances and making mistakes together.”

When applying for the PE leader position sophomore year, each student submits an application and teachers give feedback on each applicant. If a student’s application is accepted, those selected take a class their junior year to develop leadership skills, Walker said. PE Leaders will use those skills when placed in freshman and sophomore PE classes  as seniors to help support younger students, Walker added.

“One of our big pushes in leaders is to try to do more things for others, impact others positively,” Walker said.

The program focuses on building social bridges between different grade levels, senior Amanda Mikuzis, PE Leader, said. For many students involved, the program helps them meet new people in their PE classes, Mikuzis added.

“It creates a sense of community between the younger and older kids, especially for the freshman who are nervous coming to a brand new, huge school,” Mikuzis said. “Having a relationship with the older kids gives them a sense of security and comfort.”