School Spotlight: Robbinsdale Middle School Scares Away Hunger
In this Halloween edition of School Spotlight, we see why Robbinsdale Middle School students are motivated to scare away hunger. Student leaders organize an annual food drive to coincide with spirit week. Besides Robbinsdale Middle School, Plymouth Middle, Sandburg and FAIR School Crystal also held food drives this week. Last year, the middle schools and elementary schools collected more than 6,000 items along with 3,200 pounds of food to distribute to CEAP, PRISM and NEAR food shelves.
Robbinsdale Middle Students Scare Away Hunger
The day outside Robbinsdale Middle School was gray and gloomy on Halloween day.
But that didn’t cast a spell on students and staff inside. They dressed up as cartoon characters, scary villains, and even everyday superheroes. The entire sixth grade teaching team wore onesies.
Student leaders organized Costume Day to coincide with Halloween in the middle of what’s become an annual tradition at the school, We Scare Hunger Spirit Week.
“If we are going to scare away hunger, we decided to do something fun as well,” said Pazow Xiong, one of the student leaders in the multicultural club.
Each morning, students can donate a nonperishable item and with the help of local grocery stores like Cub Foods and Lunds and Byerlys, they can get a donut or candy in return. The lobby of Robbinsdale Middle School is the collection point and decorated to reflect the spirit of the week.
“I really like the team aspect of it,” said Stacey Kinsella, a sixth grade teacher and Video Crew director. “Collaborating as a school, right here in the front foyer gets the school involved at all grade levels.”
“We met days after school and put together a bulletin board,” said Alleyne Syverson, a member of student council. “We do care.”
Motivating themselves, motivating others
Students also motivated other students to get excited about helping others.
“It means we will be giving all the food that schools donated to food banks and shelters,” explained Nathan Hernandez, who is on the multicultural club. Nathan says the students don’t have a specific goal, but hope to collect “as much as they can.” Last year, RMS students, families, and staff donated 387 pounds of food for NEAR.
“We thought Robbinsdale is a good district and a good school to help others,” said Ashley Gomez, who serves on student council.
One benefit for students at this International Baccalaureate (IB) World school is that by helping others, students benefit themselves. One of the characteristics of an IB World School is for students to make connections to the real world and develop a willingness to participate in the world around them.
“I told the students ‘you guys are doing so well giving,” said Karlette Williams, facilitator for multicultural club and student council. “The smiles on their faces—they are happy. When they are giving all this food, they are enthusiastic. It was a positive thing.”
Halloween was a day for more than just spooky spirits. It was a day for Robbinsdale Middle School to show their true school spirit.
To learn more about Robbinsdale Middle School, click here.
