Jordan Supercast

Episode 301: Building School Pride with “Battle of the Grades” at Fort Herriman Middle School

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They are putting school pride firmly in the hands of students and building strong connections at the same time at Fort Herriman Middle School.

On this episode of the Supercast, hear why “Battle of the Grades” has become a big hit throughout the entire year at Fort Herriman. It is a battle resulting in a big win for everyone, with students taking care of one another and taking greater pride in their school.

Audio Transcription

Creed Jensen:

I feel like it really has united this school and I feel like it's just been a fun time seeing our peers work together and just competing in a friendly way.

Aly Law:

Our main goal was “how do we take this unique little spot and still have a positive school culture?”

Zachary Workman:

I love that we have gradually turned the reins over more and more to the students. It's really flourished under their leadership.

[Music]

Anthony Godfrey:

Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. They are putting school pride firmly in the hands of students and building strong connections at the same time at Fort Herriman Middle School. On this episode of the Supercast, hear why Battle of the Grades has become a huge hit throughout the entire year at Fort Herriman. It is a battle resulting in a big win for everyone and students taking care of one another and taking greater pride in their school.

[Music]

Anthony Godfrey:

We are at Fort Herriman Middle School talking to three members of the faculty on a very big day here at Fort Herriman. Introduce yourself and tell us why we're here.

Aly Law:

My name is Aly Law. I'm a counselor and today we have our big Battle of the Grades assembly.

Madi Feist

I'm Madi Feist, the SBO Advisor.

Zachary Workman:

I'm Zachary Workman, a humble Spanish teacher but somehow involved in this shenanigans.

Anthony Godfrey:

And tell us, for those who are uninformed, I just walked in on it last time and I had to be part of it this time around. I texted the principal to find out exactly when it was happening again because it looked so fun. Tell me about what's involved today.

Aly Law:

This started a few years ago with a student engagement committee that was formed in our leadership meeting that was designed to help kids feel a sense of belonging to the school to find their place. And we figured some friendly competition within the grades would be a great way to do it. So today's assembly is all about some fun games, competition between grades to build some culture in our school.

Anthony Godfrey:

And as I noticed before, it seems like there's a lot of preparation that goes into this. Can you tell us, Madi, a little bit about some of the games that are included today?

Madi Feist

Yes, I'd love to. Today we are doing a lot of games. Our theme for the day is ‘Cars.’ Disney Cars. Our school theme this year is “you're in the driver's seat” helping students realize that they drive their own life. So our student body officers decided that ‘Cars’ was so fitting for that. So we will start our day with a mattress slide called the Lightning Speedway, “which I believe you will be participating in.

Anthony Godfrey:

First, I thought I was going to get to kind of warm up a little bit. I will be wearing the suit. I was going to wear more athletic shoes for it, but I thought, you know, I need an excuse for if things go badly. Well, it was.

Madi Feist

Blame it on the shoes. Blame it on the shoes.

Anthony Godfrey:

Right. Exactly.

Madi Feist

You are fourth in the relay. So you will have some . . .

Anthony Godfrey:

Oh, so I get to watch the technique. Does fourth in the relay mean that I'm on the tail end?

Madi Feist

That does mean that you, yeah, that's a big spot.

Anthony Godfrey:

I didn't want to say anchor, but yes, I'm the anchor. Okay. Well, I'm excited. The adrenaline is pumping.

Madi Feist

Oh great. As it should be.

Anthony Godfrey:

Now tell us about some of the other events.

Madi Feist

Another game that we're going to do today is a spinoff of Keepy Uppy or keeping the balloon up in the air, but instead.

Anthony Godfrey:

Keepy Uppy

Madi Feist

Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:

I know what kind of name. Now I know.

Madi Feist

Well, that was coined by.

Anthony Godfrey:

Is that, was that a Bluey reference?

Madi Feist

Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:

Well, my kids are beyond Bluey age, I'm afraid.

Madi Feist

Such a bummer.

Anthony Godfrey:

Yeah.

Madi Feist

So Keepy Uppy, but instead they'll be holding up boxes with road signs in them and you're trying to knock down other people's road signs while keeping up your own road signs. So our final four standing, we'll all get points. So that'll be great. And then we have a Wiggle Grand Prix. Have you ever seen those Wiggle cars?

Anthony Godfrey:

Oh, yes.

Madi Feist

So we have four of those. And so that'll be a relay as well across the gym.

Anthony Godfrey:

You know, I'm feeling really good about being part of the mattress relay. Wiggle car, I think would be disastrous.

Madi Feist

Okay. And then the pit crew pin challenge, we'll have some inflatable bowling pins set up. They're giant. And then a student or in the teacher's case, a teacher will be on a, what would you call that? It was like little four-wheeled carts.

Anthony Godfrey:

Oh.

Madi Feist

They're using gym class.

Anthony Godfrey:

The well-known gym class.

Madi Feist

So tiny. And they will be on that and the teammate will push them into the pin.

Anthony Godfrey:

I sure remember running over my finger in middle school holding onto that cart. Is anyone run over your hand on that cart? Right there. Right there. Painful, right? You'll never forget. Now, tell me your involvement. You're trying to pretend like you're an innocent bystander, but I think you're more involved than you're letting on.

Zachary Workman:

Just to Ali's point from the get-go, our main concern as a school is “how do we get more buy-in from more students?” There are a lot of social demographics that we don't typically reach. I think schooling can often cater to a certain group of straight-laced, well-behaved, academically inclined kids. And we wanted everyone to feel seen and valued. So as a member of that committee, we just did a lot of brainstorming a few years ago. What kind of things can we do to get this kind of competitive participation that would get everyone excited? I love that we have gradually turned the reins over more and more to the students. I think that was really the goal that we began with. We had to start it as faculty, but as you can see from this room full of students, they've really bought in and it's really flourished under their leadership.

Anthony Godfrey:

They have dressed in the right colors. They have handprints of paint all over their bodies. Mustaches that I think are fake, but maybe he grew that over the three-day weekend. I don't know. But they're geared up. Oh, there's another mustache. Who knows? It's everywhere.

Aly Law:

Middle school is such a unique place for students. There is a lot of culture development that goes into the high school that a lot of students cling to their high school. A lot. And even our students cling to their future high school because those are the sports teams they play on. That's what they're excited about in the future. Elementary school has a lot going on because it's their first experience with school, but middle school is this unique little spot. Our main goal was how do we take this unique little spot and still have a positive school culture and still have school pride?

Anthony Godfrey:

Yeah, I love that. Being very intentional about it, saying this is a need. This is something we know is missing. How do we make everyone feel connected to the school? You've touched on it a little bit, but what is the outcome that you hope? What is the result you hope for for students after doing this throughout the year?

Aly Law:

I think the biggest goal is just that they take pride in a few areas. One is their grade and their peers and the group that they belong to. The second would be their school. This started in the height of some TikTok famous vandalism. We had kids that were just being a little too free in the bathrooms with some vandalism. We really wanted them to feel pride in their school, physically, academically, just be involved. So pride in themselves, pride in their grade, pride in their school, pride in their community, and just belonging.

Anthony Godfrey:

Well, I was impressed at how intense the focus was during that event when I wandered into it. I was here for another event, for another meeting, and walked down and couldn't resist it. I had to stay in and I was late for my next event because I needed to see as much of it as possible. I did get to see the mattress race. What's it called exactly? What is my fate today?

Aly Law:

Today we are calling it Lightning Speedway.

Anthony Godfrey:

Oh, the Lightning Speedway.

Aly Law:

Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:

Okay, very good.

Madi Feist

I'd like to add into that. I think another goal is for them to see their teachers in a different light. We out food the teachers in every competition. We get to have fun with them and engage in them in a different way. And I think they get to A, know teachers so that they wouldn't have classes in and see their teachers in different ways.

Anthony Godfrey:

And how do teachers and students get selected for this opportunity?

Madi Feist

Just one specifically, this battle of the grade, we sent out a Google form and students could elect and then they were chosen. Same with teachers. In the past it's just been raise your hand if you're interested or we've tried a bunch of different methods. So they're still selected.

Anthony Godfrey:

As the momentum continues though, you have to modify those methods. So who's going to win today? Which grade?

Madi Feist

Sweet.

Students:

Ninth grade.

Anthony Godfrey:

Okay, it's clear. I don't know who's going to win. Let's say, I think it's going to be the faculty. Stay with us when we come back. More from the students and staff at Fort Herriman Middle School.

[Music]

Male voice:

Never miss an episode of The Supercast by liking and subscribing on your favorite podcasting platform. Find transcripts for this episode and others at supercast.jordandistrict.org.

[Music]

Female voice:

Does your student want to become a veterinarian, commercial pilot, programmer? Maybe they want to make a difference as a dental assistant. These are just some of the programs offered as part of Career and Technical Education. CTE in Jordan School District. CTE provides the technical skills needed to prepare students for future employment or for a successful transition to post-secondary education. Career and Technical Education provides work-based learning opportunities. We partner with industry experts to offer apprenticeships and internships with students working in the real world at real jobs while going to school. The CTE experience starts in our elementary schools with the Kids' Marketplace and grows through middle and high school. To explore all CTE has to offer in Jordan School District, visit cte.jordandistrict.org today and let's get your child started on the pathway to a profession.

Anthony Godfrey:

Let's talk with some of the Student Body Officers here at Fort Herriman. Tell us your name, grade, and your position, and what you're most excited about today.

Creed Jensen:

I'm Creed Jensen. I'm an 8th grade SBO and for the position of this assembly, I was told to choose the games for this one and the past assembly. I think I'm most excited for the mattress slide. Kids get really passionate about it. To get super competitive in just a fun environment to be in.

Anthony Godfrey:

Okay, great. No pressure. How about for you?

Addy Simmons:

My name is Addy Simmons. I'm a 9th grade SBO and I'm really excited just about being able to end this year with a bang for this assembly. Having all the students cheering each other on, having school pride, and just having a good time.

Harrison Whittle:

I'm Harrison Whittle. I'm a 7th grade SBO and I'm really excited for this assembly. I think my favorite game that we're going to do is the Wiggle Grand Prix, which is the wiggle cart one. My position in this assembly was making some height videos and instructional videos along with a lot of other people.

Anthony Godfrey:

Is there a lightning race instructional video? There really is? Okay, I'm going to watch it.

Harrison Whittle:

There is.

Anthony Godfrey:

Okay, this is my time to shine. What has the impact been of seeing these competitions throughout the year and throughout your time at Fort Herriman? What has it done for you and for other students?

Creed Jensen:

I feel like it's really just showed me that even though middle school can sometimes be like a hard time, I feel like it's showed me that you can just bring all the kids together over like small games that don't mean very much and it just like, I feel like it really is united the school and I feel like it's just been a fun time seeing our peers work together and just competing in a friendly way.

Anthony Godfrey:

Be united is one part of my theme, my motto for the District ever since I became superintendent. So I love hearing that, that it makes people feel connected with each other.

Addy Simmons:

I just feel like even though a lot of times the students leading up to the assemblies don't seem super excited because you know they have to act cool for their friends, but when it starts you can see that all of them start getting into it and they want their grade to win and they're peeking around each other's heads so they can see what's going on and it's just fun to see everybody kind of being kids and having a good time.

Anthony Godfrey:

I like the way you describe that. I saw people losing their cool when I was here before, just going nuts for their team so I can't wait to see it again.

Harrison Whittle:

I personally think that especially at the end of the year or over the start of Christmas break when we did our Denvac kid backwards, it helps them want to come to school and want to have fun since they know it's coming and they don't want to miss out on any part of it.

Anthony Godfrey:

They don't want to miss out. You want to be here, you want to be a part of it and that's really important. We've got you eight hours a day, every weekday almost. I really love that this is something to look forward to and something really exciting. I also love your mustache I have to say. The mustache and the green vest, you really look like a construction worker I just ran into it Maverik when I stopped for a drink. This is a good look for you. You ought to consider growing that mustache over the summer. Stay with it. Stay with it. Well, give me predictions. What's going to happen in the competition today? What's the analysis?

Creed Jensen:

I don't know. I feel like ninth grade is definitely coming in with the upper hand, with being up with the points. But I feel like eighth grade, we got a pretty strong roster for these games. I feel like we can come back. Seventh grade, they're just far behind. I just don't see the comeback in them. I don't know. It's like they got lots of hard competition.

Anthony Godfrey:

You acknowledge your current position but there's hope.

Creed Jensen:

Yeah, for sure.

Anthony Godfrey:

But you've written off the seventh graders. I don't know. I think that could be dangerous.

Creed Jensen:

Yeah, I don't know. Seventh graders, huh. I don't know.

Anthony Godfrey:

These are advanced seventh graders. They're at the end of their seventh grade time. They're almost you. What do you thinks gonna happen?

Addy Simmons:

You know, the ninth graders, as Creed said, we are in the lead and we actually won as eighth graders last year. So eighth graders have a chance seeing as eighth graders won before. But we got to keep the title going. We got to just leave the school with our reigning championship.

Anthony Godfrey:

So if you won last year, nobody puts the thumb on the scale for the ninth graders every year. I mean, I've been at schools where the ninth graders just automatically won every year, but that sounds like that's not the case.

Addy Simmons:

Yeah, I mean, we kind of expected it last year as far as I can remember, but us eighth graders pulled through and we're doing it so far for this year too.

Anthony Godfrey:

Okay. Well, I'm glad you took off time as a general contractor to be here today for competition. So what's your prediction today?

Harrison Whittle:

I want to take the title away from the ninth graders and have some graders win because you should always bet for the underdog. But personally, I think the ninth graders will probably win because a lot of the games are based on some strength and they have a lot of that.

Anthony Godfrey:

Okay. All right. I like the clear-eyed analysis. Now let me ask you this. Next year, though, when you guys are in eighth grade, do you think you have a chance to topple the ninth graders?

Harrison Whittle:

Yes, we're not. Next year, we are going to win.

Anthony Godfrey:

I didn't realize that the points accumulated throughout the year. Are there even enough points available today for you to surge and make a comeback?

Harrison Whittle:

Yeah, I think they're all pretty close in points. From ninth grade to seventh grade, it's probably around like a hundred-point difference and you can get that in one assembly.

Anthony Godfrey:

Okay. All right. It's anybody's game right now and I'm really excited to be in on the ground floor and to be able to talk with you guys in advance. Thanks for talking with me. Put in that psych up music, whatever you're going to listen to, to be ready and we'll see you out there.

[cheering]

Anthony Godfrey:

I'm standing now with the relay team for the mattress slide or the Lightning Race. All right, team members, introduce yourselves.

Jaby Segura:

Jaby Segura.

Zach Wurthmann:

Zach Wurthmann again.

Levi Parsons:

Levi Parsons.

Anthony Godfrey:

Has anyone here prepared or done this before? You've done this before?

Zach Wurthmann

I was involved in last assembly's mattress slide.

Anthony Godfrey:

So you don't have any butterflies at all? You're good to go.

Zach Wurthmann:

It's just a blast. Just enjoy.

Anthony Godfrey:

What's your advice?

Zach Wurthmann:

Slip and slide technique as if you're like summer on the lawn.

Anthony Godfrey:

Close to the ground.

Zach Wurthmann:

Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:

Okay. That's been a while since I was on a slip and slide, but I'm going to try to access that memory. How about for you? You haven't practiced, you told me.

Jaby Segura:

I have not practiced. I'm just going for the quick tuck and roll after I slide to allow the next person to their slide.

Anthony Godfrey:

Oh. It's getting out of the way quickly.

Jaby Segura:

Getting out of the way quickly is my advice.

Anthony Godfrey:

That's actually really good advice. Okay. Because if I don't hurt myself, I'll kind of stand up and just like celebrate. But what I need to do is get out of your way.

Anthony Godfrey:

How about for you? What are you thinking?

Levi Parsons:

I haven't done it before, but there's no choice but to win. So we're going to win.

Anthony Godfrey:

I am on the right team. All right. Let's see how things go.

[cheering]

Anthony Godfrey:

We're here with the principal of Fort Herriman Middle School. Introduce yourself and assess how my team and I did in the Mattress Slide Lightning Race.

Glenn Richens:

I am Glenn Richens, principal here at Fort Herriman Middle School. The Mattress Race is one of my favorite events. Dr. Godfrey was the anchor in the first round. In the second round, he decided to go first and ended up being a good personal move there, where they were able to beat the other team in that second round. So quite amazing performance there.

Anthony Godfrey:

You know, principals are always able to put a good spin on things and this is no exception. I never should have anchored, but it was really, really fun and got to participate with some great teachers. So what a great vibe. What a great feel here today at Fort Herriman. Congratulations on creating a wonderful culture with the help of some incredible teachers and students.

Glenn Richens:

We appreciate all the support. We have great people here at Fort Herriman and they do a great job putting things like this together. Great students that are bringing the juice every day.

Anthony Godfrey:

Great staff, great students, and a great time. Thank you very much.

[music]

Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, “Education is the most important thing you will do today!” We'll see you out there.

[music]

 

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