Prefects, our elected senior ethics leaders, have many responsibilities to fulfill throughout their year in the role, responsibilities that include selecting ethics assembly speakers, leading ethics discussions in the Upper School, and selecting the school motto for the year.  

One of the most impactful duties is teaching ethics lessons to Lower and Middle School students. During these lessons, the student leaders guide the younger boys in understanding how to live by Landon’s Honor and Civility Codes. 

“One of our goals for our year as Prefects is to steward more cross-divisional connections. This is a really great way to do that, and not only was it something to help execute our goals, but it was just really enjoyable to get to talk to [the younger students],” Dylan ’24, one of 18 Prefects, said. 

A group of four Prefects had their first lesson of the new school year with Grade 3 students. The focus was Honesty, one of Landon’s core values. Boys first got to know each other, then discussed the best, most honest responses to hypothetical scenarios. 

They are interactions that serve the older Bears perhaps as much as their younger counterparts. 

For Gavin ’24, a Prefect and a ten-year Bear, playing such a major role in fostering connections between Upper School, Middle School, and Lower School students is an immense honor. 

“Getting to know kids across divisions is always a big part of being a Prefect. Being able to teach them, hang out with them, and learn who they are as people is the most gratifying responsibility we have and is a huge part of making my day great,” Gavin’24 said.  

“I like how they come and teach us about right and wrong, and it’s very nice to know how to become good young men,” Alec ’33 said.  

John Bellaschi, the Director of Ethics, Service, and Leadership, says helping Prefects teach these ethics lessons is a joy and privilege for him. It’s obvious to him what a positive impact the Prefects have.   

“We asked a third-grade class to choose a historical figure that exemplified Landon’s Core Values.  One third grader said it was a tie between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Prefect who had been teaching him,” Bellaschi recalled. “The younger boys put the Senior Prefects on a pedestal, and the influence and responsibility it brings are the best part of the Prefect program.” 

“It’s just really fun to have them,” Alec said. “I would like to be a Prefect one day.”