Indus School took part in National “Mix It Up at Lunch” Day Nov. 9. The idea behind this event, originally sponsored by the Southern Poverty Law Center, is to build understanding and trust among people who are different from oneself. When people interact with a variety of people, they are less likely to exclude or show prejudices against them. Nurse Susan Palm coordinated the event at Indus School along with school-based interventionist Lorraine Vollmer.
Teachers and staff in the elementary and high school attended student lunch hours to “mix up” students and communicate with them! Instead of sitting with the usual peers, students were issued playing cards numbered 1-8 from Superintendent Bob Jaszczak and Vollmer, then were instructed to sit at the table corresponding to the number on their card. The teacher or staff member who sat at each table with up to eight students asked various questions such as “What’s your favorite … ?” and “Could you be friends with ... ?”
National Mix It Up Day is based on a simple picture … It’s lunch hour, you get your meal and you sit at the same table of friends as you did yesterday. Why? Because the same spot on a daily basis is where you are comfortable. But wouldn’t it be nice to sit with someone new for a change? “Mixing It Up” is an easy way to meet new people and make new friends. It’s a day to find out how your interests compare to others and to make new friends!
