This year, a new tradition began at Laura Welch Bush Elementary School. During the morning of the first Friday of every month, the entire school gathered together for Friday Assembly, providing an opportunity for school-wide learning, awards and recognitions, and a celebration of school culture and spirit.
Recognizing that some topics of learning scale all grade-levels, a portion of the assembly each month is spent discussing a topic on health and wellness, such as autism awareness, fire safety and food allergy awareness. In addition to health and wellness topics, each month this year, a new habit from the “Leader in Me” 7 Habits was introduced. While these topics were introduced in the Friday Assemblies, they were built upon and discussed further in the classrooms throughout the month.
Gathering the school together also provides a platform for students to take pride in their accomplishments and celebrate those of their peers. During the last assembly of the year, special recognition was given to the 28 students who competed at the regional and state levels of Destination Imagination. Perhaps the peak of excitement among students developed during the presentation of Gold Crayon Awards, an award implemented by the school’s art teacher that allows grade-level behavior points and awards a giant gold crayon to the class in each grade-level with the most points.
At the end of each assembly, the MPR rings with the voices of the students singing their school song, ending with a proud shout and a feeling of shared school spirit.
