Dozens of Stone Bridge High School students identified as leaders in the school or the community gathered Monday for a powwow of sorts at the National Association of Parks and Recreation in Brambleton to begin talking about the coming year.

The goal of the annual student leadership retreat is to engage existing leaders and encourage them to pass their positive attitudes along to others in the school. And Stone Bridge seems a pretty good start with a large number of leaders heading into the new school year.

“It grows every year,” said Assistant Principal Joseph Gabalski, who told the group, “You’ve got the honor of being the biggest group we’ve ever had.”

Stone Bridge PTSO president David L. Reed said the retreat provides an opportunity to focus on elements of common interest. The theme: Putting Ideas into Action.

“We have for years brought together students leaders to kind of think about framing things for the school year,” he said.

Principal James Person said teachers, club sponsors, coaches and others recommend students for the retreat, drawing from leaders in the classroom, on the field, in the lockerroom, in drama, music, various clubs and others. The goal, he said, is to be the “greatest school we can possibly be.

“It comes down to you’re really trying to build a community,” he said, adding that the school wants “each student to feel valued, engaged, involved.”

One project for the year will involve the use of one of the school’s two courtyards. While one is designated the senior courtyard, the other has no specified use.

“It’s a chance to have them feel more vested,” Person said.

Person told the students he really hopes to drive enthusiasm in the school’s students, particularly during opportunities to demonstrate school spirit, such as homecoming.

”Let’s get the whole school to really take it to the next level this year,” he said.