Empowerment, Empathy, and Entertainment, Oh My!

Every week at Caruso Middle School is special, but this past week was truly remarkable.  

Students asked for and were given a voice and they used this empowerment to stage a school sit-in and community town hall meeting to promote school safety.  Students demonstrated empathy and understanding through our inaugural Disabilities Awareness Week. Then our students used their voices, literally, to cap off the week with a performance of Shrek, Jr. The Musical that brought the house down.  

Empowerment

Our students asked for the opportunity to participate in a walk-out to promote school safety.  We said no, but challenged them to collaborate to achieve their same goals in another way  They did not disappoint.

A large group of students organized a sit-in for seventeen minutes on March 14 at 10:00 a.m. to honor the victims of the Parkland school shootings.  Hundreds of students prepared messages to express their sentiments and calls for action. At 10:00 a.m. they quietly proceeded to the hallways around the building and took turns reading their statements and sharing with one another.  

During the same week, students from Caruso and Shepard Middle schools collaborated to facilitate a community town hall meeting – Students Stand for Safety.  The students identified what they wanted to accomplish and divided up into committees to make it happen.  They reached out to local officials and leaders. They generated an agenda. They prepared speeches. They created videos.  They invited the community.

The end product was something special.  Hundreds of students, parents, staff, and community members descended upon Caruso Middle School on the evening of March 14 for an evening event.  Students led from start to finish and used their platform to communicate their concerns, their realities, and their desires for the future. They were able to incorporate local leaders into the evening, including Mayor Harriet Rosenthal, U.S. Representative Brad Schneider, Superintendent Mike Lubelfeld, and many others.

Empathy

As if the student activism was not enough to productively fill a week, our Caruso Middle School students also participated in our inaugural Disability Awareness week.  Inspired by Caruso parent, Patty O’Machel, our students were able to participate in several fantastic learning opportunities. We kicked the week off with keynote speaker Ahalya Lettenberger, decorated paratriathlete and area high school junior.  She shared with our students the power of perseverance and passion, regardless of the obstacles that may be faced.

Disability awareness week has begun! Put some paint on your feet, take a walk down the street! @109Caruso #engage109 pic.twitter.com/jm8LH3iv4d

— Brittany Zajac (@britzajac) March 12, 2018

#Engage109 @109Caruso Ahalya Lettenberger from Glen Ellyn was our guest speaker. She is a three sport para-Olympian in swimming, track and triathlon and spoke of her grit in overcoming her physical challenges to a captivated middle school audience. pic.twitter.com/BLzHmCRsl8

— Terry Grossberg (@tgrossberg) March 12, 2018

Throughout the week each grade level had a different theme.  6th grade students focused on accessibility and technology. They participated in a design challenge in science classes and were joined by prosthetic designer, Kimmy Champion.

6th graders learning about prosthetic and orthotics for #disabilityawarenessweek #lotsofvolunteers @109Caruso #engage109 pic.twitter.com/XJEuAgF0VB

— Lindsay Ettelson (@LindsaytheSLP) March 13, 2018

7th grade students focused on hidden disabilities.  Their experience included a panel of current Deerfield High School students joining them to speak about their experiences with hidden disabilities.

8th grade students participated in Wheelchair for a Day activities.  Throughout the week students and staff checked out wheelchairs for the day and navigated the building, reflecting on their experiences at the end.  Sport wheelchairs were also integrated into P.E. classes.

Entertainment

How do you cap off such a powerful week?  With a powerhouse performance by our music department.  Led by director Kara Vombrack, Shrek, Jr., The Musical, was a smashing success!  The cast and crew entertained the 6th graders and incoming 5th graders from Wilmot and South Park schools during the day and followed that matinee with three weekend performances.  Months of preparation paid off as the crowds were entertained by the multitude of talent displayed by our student performers.

Stunning set, captivating cast and crew! #wilmot109 enjoyed Shrek Jr. the musical @109Caruso #engage109 incredible job to all! Thx @karavombrack pic.twitter.com/BpGDXOEzjt

— Jenny Miltimore (@jlmilti) March 16, 2018

 

What a great week to be a Caruso Middle School Bluejay!!