Year 8: Week 35 - How We Come Together

There are many different presentations at my school during assemblies that reflect the diversity and the values of the Parker community. Assemblies that carry tradition like Class Day, that ends the school year, connect students with each other in the moment, and also create a shared experienced and bond with alumni. A student who sings “Simple Gifts” at the Thanksgiving presentation, has an immediate connection with an alumni who sang the same song decades earlier. Even though they are separated by time, the tradition creates a bridge, an expression of a value through an experience that binds them together.

The assemblies that bring in guests, broaden our sense of community and help students understand the different roles that people play in our democracy. These assemblies provide important windows into other people’s experiences, and mirrors so that students see facets of their own identity valued in our community. The subjects of the guests at MX are varied including presentations by members of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, as part of the inaugural Visiting Music Scholar program this year, and Representative John Lewis speaking about his experiences in the Civil Rights movement and his continued work.

There is a common thread that ties in our speakers, that is powerful and important. The values of our school, the progressive approach to education and our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion resonates in the guests that come to our school. The deliberate work to bring in those from that share in the mission of our school makes real the meaningful and purposeful the work at this school, and helps our students understand that their values, their goals, and their beliefs do not exist on an island.

Another type of asemblies are when classes share their curricular work or extracurricular activities. These “show and tell” presentations provide looks into what is happening throughout the school. During a JK-5 sharing assemblies, students may present reflections, songs, and journal writing. This work is an important reminder to students where they used to be, where they are, and/or where they are going. A 3rd grader is not going to fully understand the work of a high science students, however, a 3rd grader’s view on the school will be enriched knowing that this subject is being explored and may be inspired by the passion and interests the students’ presenting. Robotics club presents the innovating way that technology, engineering, and teamwork, come together to complete tasks. While these tasks may be as simple as moving a ball, the process to create the robot, presented during the assembly, is complex, and challenging. It is this challenge of the process itself that informs the work that students do throughout the school.

The traditions, the guests, the curricular, and extra-curricular sharings that are featured in assemblies enriches our community, and are powerful experiences in different ways. As our school continues to reflect the needs of the students in our modern society, assemblies have evolved to reflect the immediate need to address present day issues. And like the innovation within the classroom experience, new assemblies have brought people together from across our community to create moments that redefine our understanding of what it means to learn together.