Every student at Yavneh Academy middle school attends advisory, a class focusing on social/emotional skills. Recently, the sixth graders had an end of the year culminating advisory team-building program as a “siyum” and celebration of all that they learned this year. For, it is not just the academic skills that Yavneh celebrate with siyumim, but also the life skills that students gain.

Each team-building activity represented a skill that the students learned in advisory this year. Setting academic goals and study skills and habits was represented by the “moonball” activity in which students had to keep a beach ball in the air as a group without it hitting the ground and without any member hitting it more than once. The “chicken in a blanket activity” represented the “Be A Friend, Make A Friend” unit where students learning about how to choose and be a friend. “Group juggle” symbolized the time management unit. The “I’m a mess!” activity challenged students to actually race at organizing a backpack, clearly exemplifying the organization unit.. Then, the activity that challenged students to be poised represented the manners and etiquette unit, where students focused on proper behavior at bar/bat mitzvahs, in class with teachers and overall polite behavior. The program ended with “we are all connected” where students created a cobweb made of yarn, with each person holding a piece of the yarn. This activity showed the students that every person is important and powerful and needs to feel respected. Students were then able to recollect the unit on bullying and social exclusion which focused on the power of the bystander.

While the students had fun, they realized how much they had grown over the year. Entering middle school is a transition and at times can be challenging, but the Yavneh Academy sixth graders can celebrate all that they have achieved!