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Roadrunners celebrate school spirit at Highland Park

Feb 27, 2017 04:23PM ● By Natalie Mollinet

The student body at Highland Park came together to become a crayon box representing community. (Katherin Wallin/Parent).

By Natalie Mollinet | [email protected]

During the third week of January, Highland Park students participated in Roadrunner Week to help promote not only school spirit but also a community of caring.

“The focus on the week was about focusing on respect, kindness, service and inclusion,” Jennifer Going, the chair of Roadrunner Week, said.

Roadrunner days began with Principal Shelley Halverson as a way to promote school spirit and a community of caring characteristics. The tradition has continued with the help of the PTA and the current school principal, Debora Cluff.

During the week, students participated in many activities. The first day was Roadrunner day when kids came dressed in yellow and blue shirts or school T-shirts. The challenge was to smile more and make an effort to smile at everyone.

For many students, the second day—Aloha Day—was their favorite. Students were encouraged to dress in a Hawaiian shirt and island vacation attire. Anytime someone said “hello,” they were asked to say, “aloha.”

The third day was throwback Thursday, where students and teachers celebrated the history of Highland Park. The school was originally at the location of Carden School on 2700 S. and 1738 E. But in 1977, Highland Park moved to its current location. Thursday was spent celebrating the 70s in bell bottom pants or something groovy. 2017 is the 40th anniversary of the new location.

“I thought the ‘Aloha Day’ was a fun way of warming up the winter week,” Going said, “but my sixth-grade daughter Ashley liked the ‘Throw Back Thursday’ because ‘it is fun to dress up like the oldies.’”

During the week, all the students focused on a book called “The Crayon Box That Talked” by Shane DeRolf. The book is about how all the crayons can’t get along because of all the different colors. A little girl buys the box of crayons and decides to draw a picture with them. Once the colors see the beautiful drawing they created together, they realize that each color is special in their own way.

“On Friday, they had each grade wear a different colored shirt,” Marina Coomes, a faculty member at Highland Park, said. “They came looking like a box of crayons. They thought it was fun wearing the different colored shirts.”

Everyone gathered in the lunch room to take a picture forming a box of crayons. Along with that, each student got a small box of crayons to take home with them so they could remember how to work together.

“Our hope is that all the Roadrunner community can unite under the roof of respect and kindness at Highland Park,” the PTA said.