In mid-April, the 7th- and 9th-grade classes hosted talent shows that took place in class meeting where students were encouraged to demonstrate their skills in front of their peers. The shows demonstrated students’ talents, which ranged from singing to karate.
Both the 7th- and 9th-grade class councils organized the talent shows to create an enjoyable event that could assist in building community among their classes. English Instructor and 9th- Grade Dean Danielle Blette stressed how the shows were very relaxed, permitting students to perform in a low-pressure environment.
“It’s a class meeting, so it’s not in front of the whole school, it’s just among friends,” Blette said. “We want to make sure we’re creating a space where people feel safe to be vulnerable and have fun with each other and where it’s not always so high-stakes.”
However, prior to the talent shows, both class councils struggled to encourage participation among their classes and students were hesitant to perform. To remedy this, the councils brainstormed various incentives to persuade their peers to sign up for the shows.
“At the end, they [those who signed up] got doughnuts,” 7th grade Community Partnerships Representative Julia said. “Motivating people by sending out emails and flyers was really fun.”
However, the 7th- and 9th-grade talent shows did differ. While the 7th-grade council offered doughnuts to anyone who signed up and there was no winner of their show, the 9th-grade council decided to make their talent show a competition judged by class advisers. The winner of the talent show, 9th grader Ellie, who sang a song from the musical “Beetlejuice,” won boba as a prize. Although Blette initially desired the talent show to have no winner, the council was adamant that the event should be a competition. Students said they were excited to participate after this change.
“Having a winner was actually one of the main ways [council] got people to join,” Blette said. “They wanted it to be clear that, if you do well, you will get a prize.”
Competitive or not, both of the talent shows were successful.
“It was really great,” Arts Representative Sarah ‘28 said. “Our community got to get more connected with one another, and it was a friendly, fun competition.”
