Local students had the opportunity to meet and greet new people recently during their lunch periods- and the students were very accepting of the newborn mix.
Independence Elementary School was delighted to join over seven thousand schools worldwide for its first National Mix It Up Lunch Day on Nov. 16.
Mix It Up Lunch Day is a national initiative to encourage children to break down the barriers that restrict them in social environments.
‘Children and adults all have tendency’s to go to our comfort zones,? said Chris Turner, Principle. ‘It’s an initiative to try to break that boundary, even for a day.?
Independence Elementary’s diversity committee is made up of teachers and parents. A committee member heard about the spread of National Mix It Up Day and brought it to the school’s attention. A few weeks of planning, and Independence Elementary brought the national day to the Clarkston area.
‘I think it’s wonderful and I’m pleased on the turnout today,? said Turner. ‘Children that don’t know each other were sitting together and having conversations.?
Independence worked hard and covered every necessary step in order to make the day successful . At lunchtime, students were handed a colored sticker. These colors went along with the colors of the lunch tables, assigning children their lunch seat for the day. Students had to stay in their assigned areas for the remainder of the lunch period.
Many of the students did not know each other well, and the school anticipated some resistance, so the diversity committee had parent volunteers and students carry a sheet of paper with questions on them. These questions were conversation starters, and they worked. A sampling of the questions included: when is your birthday, do you like to sleep in, and do you like to go to the beach or play video games?
‘This is my first time at the Mix It Up Lunch,? said fifth grader Kelly Baker. ‘It’s really fun and I would like to do it again.?
Kelly may get her wish. The committee is brainstorming other possible activities where students can interact on the same level and purpose as Mix it up Day.
‘I was exposed to the National Mix It Up Lunch Day through my work,? said Sue Petrimoulx of the diversity committee. ‘I would definitely be a part of any upcoming events like this in the future.?
Independence Elementary is constantly addressing the importance of working with other children and meeting new people. Mix It Up lunch Day attempted to draw these children together so they could break away from their everyday routine. The day was a hit, and students are eagerly waiting for their next social to come.