In recent weeks, our Elementary School students have been participating in student-led assemblies, showcasing their learning and leadership skills. But what are these assemblies, and why do we organize them? What impact do they have on our young learners? To find out more about how these assemblies contribute to student growth and foster a sense of community, read on for a Q&A with our Elementary School Vice Principal Yvonne Featherer. 

Can you tell us about how assemblies are organized in the Elementary School?

Assemblies are organized by grade-level learning communities. Teachers work with students who choose what learning they want to share in the assemblies, how they want to share their learning, and what parts of the assembly they want to contribute to. 

How do you believe these assemblies contribute to student leadership and personal growth?

Students have the freedom to decide how to share their learning. For example, they can share it in a skit, a video, a game, a poster, a question-answer session, reading a passage of writing, or any other way they can come up with. This autonomy of choice allows them to feel in control of their learning and presenting. It also allows them to build reflection skills to consider how they can best communicate a message to the audience.  Finally, this supports students in building: presentation, risk taking, and communication skills.

In what ways do student-led assemblies foster a sense of community among students?

Students who present have to work together to determine how best they can share their message.  In addition, students need to agree on who will do which part of the sharing.  This type of collaboration, communication, and compromise builds a strong sense of belonging and ownership in their learning community. Finally, as they share their learning with others, they feel a shared sense of pride in their experiences and their learning which bonds them as a community.

How are students encouraged to participate in and lead these assemblies?

Students usually have a choice of how they want to participate.  They can choose to be speakers or organizers.  Organizers often write the script, make visuals, or create the videos.  Speakers share their learning in a variety of ways. Having choice allows students to feel empowered to share in ways they feel most comfortable.

What feedback have you received from students and teachers about the impact of these assemblies?

Students love sharing their learning with others. They get excited to see people impressed by both their learning and their confidence in being on stage in public.  Students also get positive feedback from their peers when they present in front of them. Teachers feel that assemblies help students to build valuable social-emotional learning skills. From self-management of an audience member to risk-taking as an MC or organizational skills as a video creator, students are building valuable life skills. Parents have shared that the assemblies are a wonderful way to get an idea of what their children are learning in an authentic way.