Giving Buddy a high five and having more than 400 students and teachers sing Katonah Elementary School’s very own happy birthday song to you—and everyone else who has a birthday that month—is a super feel-good experience!
“I’m going to shout hooray … shout hooray,” reverberates around the gym, amplifying the excitement!
Celebrating all the school community’s birthdays together is something everyone looks forward to at KES’s monthly Sharing Assembly. All-school gatherings take place each month at all of KLSD’s elementary schools. While each school has their own traditions, they are always a time to build school spirit, lift up student leaders and focus on a specific message.
At Katonah Elementary’s Sharing Assembly this week, fifth grade student leaders led the entire school in the Pledge of Allegiance. They also read the names of all the September birthdays. Assistant Principal Kweon Stambaugh showed a video created by second graders about positive behaviors at lunch and at recess. He also led a discussion about the growth mindset.
Mr. Stambaugh walked around the room with a mic, giving several students an opportunity to define the term. “A growth mindset is staying open to new things,” said one of the fifth graders sitting on the bleachers. “It means to never give up,” added a younger student from the floor.
“When something doesn't work out right now, don't give up because you'll learn how!” Assistant Principal Stambaugh agreed.