Each week our school community gathers for school assembly.
Our school community has been growing school assembly for the past few years, and yesterday's assembly was one of the best yet. It was an assembly that represented the thoughtful work and collaboration of many in the past couple of years.
What made the assembly so special?
First of all, the assembly was child-centered. The principal sat in the background while a well rehearsed group of fifth graders led the assembly with a prepared script, strong voices, expression and a sense of style. It was clear to see that the younger children looked up to these older students, their mentors.
Next, the assembly included the usual traditions including the birthday song, the school song and the Pledge of Allegiance. As each little birthday child stood up, you could see their pride and happiness at being recognized during their special week with a special version of the birthday song. The words of our school song remind students about our school community's values each week too. During the songs, I was moved by a young student who entered our school with little to no English in the fall as she sang each song with confidence and skill.
The assembly also included two wonderful class shares. First graders shared news and a movie related to their recent roller coaster making activity. The audience made up of children, family members and teachers sang along to popular songs that matched the enthusiasm, teamwork and inventive science at play as we watched first grade teams use trial and error to create wonderful, long and twisty roller coaster models in their classrooms. During the next share, a second grade class happily recited a wonderful land form poem while displaying landform models and illustrations. Not only did these students display engagement and knowledge, but their share also served to remind the whole school about important vocabulary and learning.
Finally, the principal handed out service learning certificates He noted that our school currently has 29 service learning projects in the works--projects that arise from children's ideas and projects that reflect both learning and service to others both in our community and outside of it. This week's service learning projects included projects that raised money through selling bracelets and crafts to support cancer research and saving endangered species. A last service learning project involved two students who were making mini posters about all the holidays in the year--posters they plan to hang up in the school to educate children about the many holidays people celebrate in our school community. The principal made a concerted effort last year to teach all students about service learning through multiple examples, models and a school-wide program.
In all, the school assembly this week represented the best of what we do as learners in our school community. Children and families look forward to school assemblies like this each week. The school assembly is an important aspect of our school that brings us together as a learning community in educational and respectful ways.
