E. Meadow students get a social education

Students across the East Meadow School District recently received a social education through special character programs hosted by two schools.

Parkway Elementary School students recently participated in a character education workshop designed to create a collegial environment. Woodland Middle School’s Social Emotional Learning Club also led a variety of interactive team building activities earlier this month.

During the Parkway workshop, called “Becoming an Ally,” independent arts and education professional Lyle Cogen collaborated with students to brainstorm ways to prevent bullying in the building. Cogen stressed that it was important for students to better understand their classmates, learn how bullying affects others and how students can become upstanders — people who will stand-up against bullying and help others when they are being bullied.

Woodland students also got acquainted their peers in new ways, as the Social Emotional Learning Club held a Disney-themed “Mix It Up Day” for sixth- and seventh-graders to meet new people, further develop their social skills and work in teams. The program was held during lunch periods.

District leaders said students received different colored bracelets in their homeroom, placing them with new individuals at designated lunch tables to participate in Disney-inspired activities. The kids made superhero masks and had fun identifying Disney quotes, they added.

Meanwhile, eighth-graders practiced their team-building skills through another program. Officials said the students were tasked with working together to accomplish a common goal.

Exercises included a human rock, paper, scissors game and “land mine travel,” in which teams had to direct their classmates across a field of “land mines” so they didn’t step on a particular portion of the floor or bump into another competitor.