Riffa Views International School conducted the 10th Annual Grade 5 Red Hat Leadership Team Ceremony. The Red Hat team is an initiative launched in 2012 by Ms. Jo Garrahy, Head of School. It aims to bridge the gap between being an elementary school student and a secondary school student as they take on responsibilities within RVIS. On Tuesday, this year's fifth grade students officially became Red Hats in a ceremony that took place in LEVEL 5.

Mr. Fields, the Grade 5 teacher, began the ceremony by reviewing the core values and responsibilities of being a Red Hat. The initiative holds two core values: taking care of others and taking care of yourselves. They use the ‘Four Bs' to guide them in their new role as leaders in elementary school – be compassionate, be positive, be involved, be inspiring.

“I'm so excited to be a Red Hat here. A Red Hat is a leader, a role model, and a very very compassionate person… I've always wanted to be a Red Hat since KG, and it's a great honor to be here” said Rashed Al-Khalifa, a Grade 5 student.

Before receiving their Red Hats, each student recited the Red Hat's Pledge. The pledge included a promise to “make a difference at our school” by “acting as a role model for our school's code of conduct” and “taking care of others so that everyone feels safe.”

The Elementary School Principal, Ms. Jessica Davis, awarded each student with their Red Hats and an honorary badge and reflected, "The Grade 5 Red Hat students are leaders in the elementary and make real change in the school. Joining the Red Hat program is something students look forward to as they progress into upper elementary and it supports our school goal of student agency. Way to go 2021 red hat leaders! " 

The ceremony concluded with a time-honored tradition of a picture of all the Red Hats on the Learning Commons steps, just like all of the classes before them.