Growing Into Greatness: How We Nurture and Assess Leadership Potential at CCS

Supporting students to lead with purpose—and how parents can help

What does leadership look like in a school setting? It's easy to picture the student who gives speeches or captains a team. But leadership potential is so much more than that. It can be quiet, reflective, or emerging in ways that aren't immediately visible—but are no less powerful.

At Canggu Community School, we believe that every student has the potential to lead in their own unique way. And as educators and parents, our role is to recognize, nurture, and support that potential over time—not only when it’s polished, but especially while it’s still developing.

To explore more about our approach to student growth and leadership development, visit ccsbali.com.

Leadership Isn’t a Title—It’s a Mindset

When we think about leadership at CCS, we think beyond roles or recognition. We ask:

• Does this student take initiative?
   
• Do they reflect on their actions and learn from feedback?
   
• Are they empathetic and able to work collaboratively?
   
• Can they persevere through challenge?
   
• Do they act in ways that uplift others?
   

These are the signs of emerging leadership—and they appear in different forms across every year level, from Early Years through IB Diploma. A child who includes others on the playground is showing respectful leadership. A student who organizes a beach cleanup shows service-oriented leadership. A learner who reflects after a setback shows resilient leadership.

As leadership coach Simon Sinek says:

"Leadership is not about being in charge. It's about taking care of those in your charge."

This is the kind of leadership we foster at CCS Bali.

How We Support Student Leadership at CCS

Through our leadership pathways—including the Student Council, House Captains, peer mentoring, and Gotong Royong initiatives—students are invited to grow their leadership skills in safe, supported, and authentic contexts.

But leadership isn’t just an extracurricular—it’s embedded in our learning culture:

• Teachers offer regular formative feedback that promotes reflection and growth
   
• Students are encouraged to take intellectual risks and challenge the status quo
   
• Collaborative learning spaces promote shared decision-making and teamwork
   
• Learner voice is woven into planning and school-wide conversations
   

We don’t assess leadership by popularity or public speaking ability. We assess it by observing behaviors, mindsets, and moments of character that reveal a student’s potential to influence others positively.

What Parents Can Do to Support Leadership at Home

You don’t need to enroll your child in a leadership seminar to help them grow as a leader. In fact, some of the most impactful support happens at home, through everyday interactions:

• Model and encourage reflection: After a challenge, ask, “What did you learn? What would you do differently next time?”
   
• Empower decision-making: Give your child opportunities to make choices, manage their time, or lead a family task
   
• Recognize effort and empathy, not just achievement: Highlight times when your child acted with integrity or stood up for someone else
   
• Promote balance and self-care: Remind your child that good leaders look after themselves, too
   
• Engage in conversations about fairness, responsibility, and influence: These discussions help shape ethical and reflective leaders
   

Final Thoughts

At Canggu Community School, we are not just preparing students to be leaders someday—we are recognizing and nurturing the leadership potential they already have today. When we align school experiences with home support, we create a powerful foundation for lifelong confidence, character, and contribution.

Until next week—keep encouraging curiosity, celebrating small acts of leadership, and believing in the quiet, steady growth of your child’s voice and vision.

Warm regards,
Dr. Ben Voborsky
Head of School
Canggu Community School | www.ccsbali.com