A Culture of Awareness

by Angela Repke, Learning Specialist

Rain skipped between the trees as I hiked with Mrs. Blondia’s Hiking and Yoga class last week. We climbed the wooded hills of Windy Moraine, a little soggy, but undeterred. Students paired off as we walked, and I had the chance to simply listen. Between the birdsong and the patter of rain, I was struck by our students’ remarkable awareness of themselves and one another.

Social skills and awareness are not an afterthought at The Leelanau School—they are one of our core values. In larger schools, teenagers may practice these skills in crowded hallways, but here, teachers and mentors coach them intentionally throughout the day. Whether navigating conversations, friendships, or missteps, students are supported in learning how to engage with honesty and care.

On that rainy hike, I heard students asking each other questions—“What’s your favorite band?” “What’s your favorite movie?” They listened patiently, gave each other time to respond, and even noticed when they slipped. “My bad,” one said after interrupting. “I totally cut you off.” Small moments, perhaps, but deeply meaningful.

I see this same awareness in my classroom. Recently, a student said, “I’m sorry I was so rude yesterday. I don’t know what was wrong with me.” At Leelanau, we call this “cleaning up our messes.” These apologies—sometimes small, sometimes significant—show humility, accountability, and grace. They are skills that will serve our students for life.

Equally impressive is how easily our students set boundaries. They can say, “I’m too tired to hang out right now,” or “Please stop; I have a headache.” And just as importantly, their peers respect those boundaries.

There isn’t a Social Skills 101 class here. Instead, awareness is woven into every moment of campus life. From Head of School Rob Hansen opening each day with reflections on grace, to Residential Life staff coaching students through evening disagreements, our culture of awareness becomes their culture of awareness.

Yes, our students study literature and math, but what stays with them long after graduation are the tools to live authentically: to communicate, to take ownership, to solve problems, and to care deeply about others. That rainy hike reminded me that at Leelanau, learning happens not only in classrooms, but also in the ways we grow within ourselves.