Key takeaways
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School assemblies are a powerful tool for building community and fostering school pride.
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Celebrating achievements and recognizing accomplishments as a whole school brings joy and togetherness.
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School assemblies can be used to teach or reinforce important instructional concepts that students will remember for a lifetime.
It can be challenging to build a school community when students typically interact only with their homeroom class in elementary school or with their grade level in middle and high school. School assemblies are a convenient way to bring students together for community-building or instructional purposes.
As an administrator at the elementary and high school levels, I have witnessed the effective use of assemblies for students of all ages. These planned gatherings have specific purposes and also teach students soft skills for learning in a large-group setting.
With thoughtful planning, school assemblies can be organized regardless of the resources available to a school. By identifying a clear purpose and forming a strong team, an outstanding school assembly is possible.
What Is a School Assembly and Why Does It Matter?
A school assembly is when a large number of students are brought together in one place within the school building for an event. In some schools, it is possible to bring the entire student body together. However, due to size or limited space, it may mean bringing together a designated portion of the students, such as a grade level or students grouped by last name.
Student assemblies matter because they can help students learn in new ways and also teach life skills. The main purpose of a school assembly might be a recognition ceremony for students or student-athletes, a presentation by a local author, or even introducing students to animals they might not otherwise see in real life. As students enjoy the community-building or instructional outcomes of the school assembly, they also learn to operate in a large-group setting. Students understand the mechanics of moving and sitting within a crowd, when to speak and when to listen, when audience participation is expected, and what responses are appropriate.
Along with understanding how to be part of the larger assembled group, students can be given leadership opportunities during school assemblies. The chance to lead in front of your peer group develops skills in student leaders and also sends a message to other students that they are not passive participants in their school journey.
How to Plan an Effective School Assembly
Planning an effective school assembly can feel daunting. However, with time and teamwork, it is possible to incorporate assemblies into the school year in meaningful ways.
The most important step for planning a school assembly is to think ahead. When an idea or opportunity arises, create a team to plan the event.
An assembly planning team or committee will need to create a list of considerations, which could include:
Purpose and Alignment
- What is the purpose of the assembly?
- How does the assembly speak to a goal associated with the school?
Presenter or Organization
- Which presenter or organization can address the intended purpose of the assembly?
- Is this a group within your school (maybe a student organization), or is this an outside entity?
- What do we know about this group?
- Is there a message and presentation appropriate for our students?
Audience
- Which groups will be included in the assembly?
- The whole school or a portion of the student body?
- Is the presentation better for older or younger students?
Scheduling and Frequency
- How many times will the assembly occur?
- If the school were divided, would each group of students attend the assembly?
Location and Space
- What location will you use for the assembly?
- How much space does this provide?
- Is this space already in use?
Timing and Impact on the School Day
- What time will the assembly be held?
- How does this impact the school day?
- Consider arrival, lunch, and dismissal specifically.
Student Movement and Supervision
- How will students enter, sit, and exit the assembly?
- There should be a plan for a staggered entry to avoid disruptions.
Safety and Contingency Planning
- Are there any safety concerns with the time or location of the event?
- Is there enough room for all the people invited?
- Can adults safely reach students within the space?
- If this is outside, what is the alternate weather plan?
Cost and Funding
- Is there a cost associated with the assembly?
- Does the school have the budget?
- Are there any ways to offset the cost? Fundraising? A grant?
Student Awareness and Expectations
- What do the students know about the assembly?
- Are the contents a surprise reward for outstanding effort?
- If the assembly is instructional, are students able to understand the material?
- If students have access to cell phones during the school day, will they be allowed to bring them to the assembly?
Community Involvement and Communication
- What is the role of the outside community?
- Are parents or families invited?
- How much information will be shared about the assembly’s content and its impact on students’ day?
The process will take more time initially, but once your school team has a set of dedicated procedures, future assemblies will come together with ease.
Creative Ideas to Make Assemblies Engaging
Creating an engaging assembly is the most fun part of the planning process. Once a school team has considered the purpose and logistics for an assembly, it is time to consider how to make the event memorable for students. For the majority of school assemblies, the planning team could incorporate the following elements:
Music and Visuals
A cost-effective way to make an assembly more interesting is to include visuals (images, clips, in-person performances) and music to set the tone for the event. You can access a K-12 online learning platform for resources.
Examples could include the school band or drumline performing, a short clip related to the presentation to prime the audience, a DJ to play music for student entry and exit, or watching a hawk land with a handler during an avian demonstration.
Energy Levels
Each school assembly will have a different purpose, and the energy will match. Most assemblies should have high levels of student engagement and energy from the presenters.
Examples could include watching a live dance, presenters incorporating jokes or humor, a connection with the school or student body (former students or current student groups), an item for students to take home, or surprise elements to captivate students.
Interactive Elements
Students of all ages would prefer to participate rather than sit for an extended period of time.
Examples could include future fairs, games to start the presentation, questions from the audience, hands-on opportunities with science experiments, a chance to vote for a winner, turn and talk with your neighbor, or a chance to try a new dance move at the end of the assembly.
Variety of Elements
Based on how long an assembly will last, it is a best practice to incorporate a variety of elements so that students are not just sitting and listening.
Examples could include movement breaks for students, the use of music between elements of the assembly, audience questions during the presentation, different speakers, and movement by the presenters during the event to connect with the entire audience.
The assembly’s tone should be considered when planning. If students are hearing from a speaker about a historical event, some elements, such as visuals and interactive features, could be meaningful, but music and high-energy movement might not be appropriate.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One of the best ways for a planning team to consider elements for an assembly is to know what mistakes to avoid. Here are some things you will want to address proactively:
- Students are not aware of behavioral expectations
- Do not assume students know how to behave in an assembly. Take time to have teachers review expectations beforehand.
- The assembly is boring
- If you spend time planning and changing student schedules for an assembly, you want to ensure it is an enjoyable experience that students will remember.
- The assembly is too long or too short
- Even with the best of intentions, an assembly will lose its meaning if it runs too long or if the school schedule is interrupted by an event that seems to go by in an instant.
- The topic is inappropriate
- Be sure you know exactly what will be presented to your students ahead of time. Consider the students’ ages and maturity levels.
- Participation is limited to the same message or group every time
- Avoid assemblies that are always planned for the same group of students. For example, awards for student athletes or high achievers are the only time students are assembled.
