JFK Middle School students swapped their regular class schedules for something far more unexpected on Mar. 19, when the school held its annual EdVenture Day, a full day of exploration, inspiration and discovery.
Conceived and organized by Principal Erin Hayes and Assistant Principal Anthony Murray, EdVenture Day invited JFK's teachers to step out from behind their subject areas and share something more personal: a hobby, a skill, a passion. The result was a rich menu of hands-on workshops that gave students a window into their teachers' lives outside the classroom, while also offering a chance to try something entirely new.
Workshop offerings ranged widely, from video production, ice cream making, and dance, to crochet, sculpting, skincare and bike repair. Students could also try bracelet making, sports card trading, speed and agility training, kickboxing, scrapbooking, and more – a lineup that reflected the breadth of talent and interests within the JFK faculty.
Woven throughout the day was the theme for this year's EdVenture Day: 250 Years of the United States. In addition to their chosen workshops, students rotated through three thematic sessions titled Past, Present and Future, connecting their hands-on experiences to a broader sense of history and possibility. To mark their journey through the day, students carried a passport, collecting stamps at each session they attended.
A highlight of EdVenture Day was a keynote presentation by Richard Hight, an artist and motivational speaker whose sessions were equal parts visual spectacle and strong encouragement. Mr. Hight opened each session by creating a large-scale chalk drawing in real time, an impressive display that immediately captured students' attention. The finished works will remain at JFK as lasting reminders of his message to the students. Rather than speaking from a stage, Mr. Hight moved through the auditorium, delivering his words from different seats among the students, a choice that made his message feel even more immediate and personal.
His words were simple and memorable: Learn from your mistakes and then move on. Keep moving on. And: What makes you different can make you great. The world needs more of you.
Students were asked to reflect on Mr. Hight's lessons as part of the day's programming, bringing a thoughtful close to what was, by all accounts, an energizing and collaborative experience for students and teachers alike.
