ELHS gives students opportunity to forge relationships with staff and classmates

Sept. 5, 2018 | Payton North
payton@thereminder.com

East Longmeadow High School welcomed students back to school last week on a different note. While most schools start off with discussions of the syllabus and textbooks, ELHS kicked off their year of “good vibes” by inviting students to take part in team building and development activities.?At the end of the week, the school came together and bonded over sack races, jousting, egg tosses and more. Assistant Principal RJ Marchewka participating in the potato sack race with student Ally Carrington.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo

EAST LONGMEADOW –  Last week, East Longmeadow High School (ELHS) kicked off the first week of school with “good vibes.” On Aug. 30 students were able to participate in grade–specific activities, and following their workshops, the school came together in a carnival setting to let loose and bond amongst one another.

On the first day of classes, teachers and staff members at ELHS lined up in matching red “Good Vibes Only” shirts and welcomed students as they walked into school and exited off of the busses.

“Judging by the smiles, hugs and high fives exchanged between students and staff on the first day, I think it’s safe to say it was well received by all,” Principal Gina Flanagan said of the first day welcoming. “Myself and many of our teachers actually teared up seeing so many happy faces.”

While the first week back to school is seemingly only about students, the teachers at ELHS played an important role at making students feel welcome and involved, as well as connecting as a staff.

“The teachers overwhelmingly valued and appreciated the day. It was an exhausting day but what was shared between teachers and students was well worth it. Everyone got to see each other in a more informal and real light which really helps people connect and share,” Flanagan explained. “My guidance staff said it was their best day ever and one of my brand new teachers stated he felt like he had, ‘died and went to teacher heaven’.”

At the carnival, teachers and students alike had the opportunity to enjoy themselves doing egg tosses, potato sack races, playing corn hole, dancing with the DJ and bouncing in the bounce houses.

Flanagan said this was a great opportunity to see groups of students who the staff doesn’t generally see connecting during the school day laughing and talking with other kids.

“The whole week we really stressed the importance of lifting each other up and taking care of each other,” she said.

At the workshops the students participated in, teachers modeled how to network, shared personal stories, helped students develop goals and build up confidence.

“All of this reinforces to me that building high levels of support and positive interactions with our students is just as important as providing a rigorous and relevant curriculum.” She added, “And we do that well, too!”

Moving forward, Flanagan said she couldn’t imagine starting off the school year without creating this focus for the students in the future. The first three days “far exceeded” her expectations, and the positive energy in the building was like nothing she had ever experienced, “it was palpable.”

“At the end of the day one of my students came up to me and said in the three years he had been here this was the best day ever. He also went on to state that he couldn’t believe how much he learned from his classmates through the different workshops we had set up,” Flanagan said. She continued to share that she believes the experience will be “so beneficial” in the classroom in terms of helping students take risks and feel more comfortable.

Though the students are back to the books and learning has commenced in its traditional form in the classroom, Flanagan plans to keep the good vibes coming. During “Spartan block,” traditionally known as advisory, teachers will be offering students fun activities that appeal to student interests and passions. Every other week during this block students will be able to pick the activity and teacher they would like to spend their chunk of time with.

“We have one teacher who will be conducting a genealogy workshop using ancestry.com, another is hosting a book club and we have many sports and art related events as well,” she explained. “We are really trying to increase the voice and choice of our students while also building positive relations between teachers and students and students and students.”

In November, Lynn Lyons, a nationally known psychologist, is coming to speak to the students on how to manage stress and anxiety. Flanagan stated they hope to continue the “good vibes” theme throughout the year.

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