Students at Woodland Middle School stepped out of their comfort zones at lunchtime and mingled with unfamiliar peers during the school’s annual “Mix It Up Day”. Hosted by the Social Emotional Literacy Committee, the students went beyond their typical social divisions and tried to connect with someone with whom they were not familiar.
Assistant Principal Patricia Graham explained that many students never take the time to introduce themselves to others who share the same lunch period. “This activity is designed to take the students out of their comfort zones and to meet new people and possibly develop new friendships,” she said.
The theme this year for Mix It Up Day was “Candy Lands.” Each student received a bracelet decorated with a photo of a specific kind of candy that corresponded with a table in the cafeteria. At their assigned tables, the students worked collaboratively to guess the number of Hershey’s Kisses in a jar. Additional games and continuous raffles took place throughout the lunch period.
Last year, the Teaching Tolerance Organization named Woodland Middle School a “Mix It Up Model School” for its attempts to foster respect and understanding among students. The school was one of 77 schools nationwide to receive this honor.
The administration and staff would like to thank the student facilitators from Woodland’s Social Emotional Literacy Committee, National Junior Honor Society Executive Board and Peer Helpers for their assistance in encouraging the students to participate in this fun activity. This year’s event was a huge success.
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