Middle School students were challenged and delighted during Mix It Up Day held in late November. The purpose of Mix It Up Days (one was also held in early October) is to increase cohesiveness within grade levels, practice friendship-making skills, shake up the typical lunchroom seating patterns, and have some good old-fashioned laughs together without the use of electronics of any kind.
Students created place cards in the beginning of the year with lists of questions to ask one another. On Mix-It Up Day, lunchroom tables were comprised of random groups of students who normally don’t sit together. They discussed the questions, recorded the questions they enjoyed discussing the most, and wrote down the group’s answers to share
Each student received a pencil for their participation while three lucky winners were awarded a nose pencil sharpener for their exceptionally entertaining answers. During one activity, students were asked to list two facts and one fictional statement about themselves and see if their fictional statement could be identified by their table mates. The group was then asked to submit their favorite fact and their favorite fiction item. Ellie Sutherland (8th), James Heiskell (7th), and Adiyah Thomas (7th) had the most entertaining answers and were given turkey hats in honor of Thanksgiving.
"Mix It Up Day was really fun. Everyone usually sits in exactly the same spot at lunch, but we moved around. I learned a lot of things I didn't know about people. There was one girl on my table who loved horses, and I had no idea. She told us about that, then everyone else started talking about their hobbies and what they liked to do too," said Raymie Lewis (6th). "I am new this year and it was a good way to get to know people."