Dear Parents/Guardians,
Students participated in a “Smarter, Stronger, and Kinder by the Quarter” school-wide TAG activity last week on the topics of identity and appreciation for others. These quarterly activities contribute to building school climate and supporting a culture of acceptance and understanding. Every TAG teacher led the same activity with all students during TAG. During this activity, titled Identity Doors: Celebrating Our Differences, Learning About Each Other, Encouraging Acceptance, Building Climate, students watched the following video clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY
Students and TAG teachers reflected on similarities and differences noticed about the groups and individuals in the video. TAG teachers reviewed the attached handout with students and asked them to note which steps toward creating a nurturing and respectful environment they can take. TAG teachers reminded students that “As Pyle Panthers, we all have a responsibility to respect and appreciate everyone at Pyle.”
Middle school is a time of identity exploration. We asked kids to create six word essays about their identity. Here are some examples of six word essays that were written by our students:
· “Weird, you say? I don’t care.”
· “I wish Bethesda wasn’t a bubble.”
· “I’m like bacon because I’m salty.”
· “Sometimes I need a break, okay?”
· “We respect everyone’s identity at Pyle.”
· “Growth mindset is my family’s foundation.”
· “Dancing: can’t stop, won’t stop ever.”
· “I’m Asian and I know it.”
· “My family is my entire life.”
· “I believe that nothing is impossible.”
Through tomorrow, TAG classes will continue to write their 6 word memoirs and create an “Identity Door,” which is a decorated classroom door that incorporates the identity of each individual in each TAG class. We will post some photographs on Pyle’s website of the Identity Doors, from creation to completion.
Thank you for taking the time to review this schoolwide activity. It is our hope that this information provides a springboard for follow up discussions at home. We encourage all of you to review the attached handout and to write a six word essay about your identity. What will you come up with? We’d love to read it! Please send your six word essays to me at Rebecca_H_Bloom@mcpsmd.org), Erika Huck -the head of the counseling department- at Erika_A_Huck@mcpsmd.org or Mr. Nardi at Christopher_B_Nardi@mcpsmd.org by Friday, December 16. Did you know that the first 6 word memoir was said to be created by Ernest Hemingway? ("For sale: baby shoes, never worn.") Want some additional inspiration to write your essays? Go to: http://theracecardproject.com/ or http://www.smithmag.net/sixwordbook/about/
We are appreciative of your support at home as our students form, create, and explore their identity during these middle school years.
Best regards,
Becky
Rebecca Best, LPC, NCC, NCSC
School Counselor
Thomas W. Pyle Middle School
6311 Wilson Lane
Bethesda, MD 20817
Posted by: "Best, Rebecca H" <Rebecca_H_Bloom@mcpsmd.org>
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