Peabody Elementary is off to a great start
Peabody Elementary’s first schoolwide assembly resembled a small theater production more than it did your average school assembly. Academic and behavior expectations were explained and reinforced through role playing. The students used skits to demonstrate the required behavior expectations for the cafeteria, hallways and restrooms.
Then they “walked the runway” to a snazzy hip-hop beat, showing off the appro- priate selections and colors for the school uniform.
The second half of the program focused on the subject of bullying. Students used drama to show the “bully circle,” how to help a friend who is being bullied, and the “No Bullying” box, which will be housed in the cafetorium. Anonymous tips about bullying can be placed in the box for further investigation.
Principal Melanie Nelson and counselor Christopher Jones acted as creative directors. In addition to developing the skits, they also engaged the audience members by having them state what they noticed after each presentation. The assembly was an excellent example of Ben Franklin’s popular quote, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
Because Peabody Elementary’s students are involved and actively engaged in the learning process, they are off to a great start this school year.