Mix it Up Day Is A Big Success At ELMS

We understand hanging out with people we think are most like us can be comfortable. But we also understand it can be uncomfortable when you want to hang out with someone new and other people think you should "stick with your own kind.”Nowhere in school are the boundaries of group membership more clearly drawn than in and around the cafeteria.

Teaching Tolerance National Website
http://www.tolerance.org/teens/index.jsp

This past week, we held our 4th annual Mix it Up Day here at ELMS. Led by our Student Services Team, all students participated in specially designed lessons to discuss the importance of getting to know everyone here at our school. At the end of the lesson, students were provided “special” seating assignments in the cafeteria for the day. Each student was assigned to sit with students they would not necessarily sit with during a regular lunch shift. As they entered the cafeteria, music was playing, balloons were placed on each table and various staff members were there to greet them. It was time to Mix it Up!

During the Mix it Up lunch period, students and teachers participated in “get to know” activities and worked as a team to try and earn prizes. During the follow-up advisory time provided, students were given the opportunity to process what they had learned about the new people they met and what were some of the benefits for reaching out to other students who they did not know.

Students I talked to during the lunch periods that day said it was a lot of fun! One student told me that she met her best friend last year as they got to know each other during this same activity. Another student told me that he really liked the music and balloons!

I believe we have a responsibility to help students understand the power of building positive relationships and the importance of reaching out to others. Mix it Up is just one way to provide ideas and tools to help our students break the walls of division and build a stronger community within our school.

The truth is, things don't have to be how they've always been - Mix It Up.