Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students work together to form the Heritage Middle School initials on the football field at Westerville North.
Students and staff at Heritage Middle School kicked off the 2017-18 school year with the third annual PRIDE team-building day on August 25. With the financial support of the Westerville Education Challenge, pupils were treated to a powerful message from motivational speaker David Mahan from Common Sense Culture.
Throughout the day, the youngsters investigated their strengths as students and future leaders. They also celebrated the various cultures that make up Heritage. In addition, 1,035 students and 100 staff members learned a hip-hop dance taught by dance instructor Melissa Gould from New Visions Dance Company. Their new school dance will be performed later.
PRIDE day is the kick off for many school-sponsored events for the year, which include quarterly celebrations for grades, attendance and good behavior choices, Lunch and Learn speakers, monthly school wide initiatives and other character and leadership programs. Students learned about having Purpose for all that they do, showing Respect to themselves others and the world while working towards being Independent and Disciplined. They are given tools to Evaluate their progress and encouraged to makes changes for optimal success. Having PRIDE is something and staff at Heritage Middle School challenge themselves and others to demonstrate every day.