Student leaders are expected to model the Academy’s core values in their actions, decisions, and relationships. Whether in a formal position or through everyday interactions, they create spaces where peers feel included, supported, and inspired to contribute. Leadership at Deerfield blends initiative with humility: it calls for listening before acting, seeking collaboration, and balancing personal integrity with the needs of the community. Students who take on these roles commit to fostering connection, upholding traditions, and helping the school evolve in thoughtful, principled ways.
Cheerleaders promote school spirit and unity through their energy, creativity, and dedication. They lead cheers at athletic events, organize pep rallies, and support all teams. Cheerleaders inspire positive crowd participation, celebrate both victories and losses with dignity, and model inclusivity and sportsmanship. Their presence enhances the sense of school spirit and community at Deerfield.
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Student clubs rely on presidents or heads to maintain momentum throughout the year. Duties include recruiting members, planning and running meetings, coordinating events and projects, ensuring the club’s activities align with Deerfield’s mission, and communicating with the faculty advisor and Student Life Office. Club heads may also manage budgets, promote inclusion, and encourage peers to take on meaningful roles.
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CVC members balance sympathy and compassion for their peers who err with a responsibility to uphold community expectations and values. Along with other members, students of the CVC listen attentively and think critically, measuring mistakes against school rules and collaborating to find an appropriate response. Student members of the CVC are expected to prioritize this work in their schedules. Confidentiality is of the utmost importance for all members of the Council. Failure to maintain confidentiality could be grounds for removal. Violation of a major school rule would also likely result in revocation of membership.
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The Center for Service and Global Citizenship (CSGC) Board advances Deerfield’s mission by promoting community service, global citizenship, and sustainability. Board members help shape a vision for the CSGC, plan and organize initiatives, and invite others to participate in meaningful projects on campus and beyond. They support peers in turning ideas into action, from raising awareness about global issues to coordinating service events. This role requires collaboration, initiative, and the ability to connect with a broad range of students and faculty.
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The LEAD program provides student-athletes with leadership training designed to strengthen individual and team performance. Through workshops and group discussions, LEADS participants explore leadership styles, develop core values, and set personal and team goals. The program fosters collaboration across sports, encourages a “We before Me” mindset, and emphasizes building inclusive, connected teams.
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Peer Counselors are trained to support the emotional well-being of the student body. They help peers navigate challenges such as stress management, healthy relationships, and substance use, and serve as a bridge between students and the Health Center when additional support is needed. Peer Counselors hold regular evening office hours, run small-group conversations with ninth graders, and make informal check-ins with sophomores to foster connection and trust. Success in this role depends on empathy, confidentiality, and the ability to be approachable and dependable.
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Peer Tutors provide course-specific academic support to their peers. They meet one-on-one to clarify material, build study strategies, and foster confidence and independence. Tutors also offer drop-in hours in the library and Crow Commons Sunday through Thursday evenings, and students may schedule individual sessions via email. Peer Tutors help peers learn by modeling effective problem-solving rather than simply giving answers.
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Proctors are seniors selected through a rigorous process for their maturity and ability to connect with students from diverse backgrounds. They are mentors and role models in ninth- and tenth-grade dormitories, where they help younger students adjust to boarding life, lead discussions about core values, health and wellness, and set a positive tone through their actions. As dorm liaisons, proctors communicate student concerns to faculty, supervise study hall and lights-out, organize dorm activities, and enforce rules fairly.
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The Student Council represents the voice of the student body and works to strengthen communication between students and school leadership. It is composed of a non-voting chair (one senior), a Student Body President (a voting senior), sixteen voting representatives (four from each class), and two additional representatives (one underclassman and one upperclassman). The chair organizes meetings, delegates responsibilities, and informs the community of Council activities. The Student Body President and the chair serve as liaisons to the Student Life Office and often address the school at large. Representatives advocate for their classmates, share Council initiatives, and maintain regular attendance at meetings. Both the chair and president may represent Deerfield at official school events.
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Varsity captains lead their teams on and off the field, serving as role models, motivators, and liaisons between teammates and coaches. They help set the tone for sportsmanship and discipline, organize team bonding activities, and ensure all members feel supported. Captains participate in the LEAD program and Captain’s Council to connect with other leaders, refine leadership skills, and shape their team’s culture.
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