St. Michael-Albertville Fifth and Sixth Graders Live it Up at Activity Night

A few weeks ago, St. Michael Patch dropped in at St. Michael Albertville Middle School East during the  of both middle schools. Last Friday night, The Patch dropped in on the fifth and sixth grade Activity Night being hosted at St. Michael Albertville Middle School West.

Different buildings, different kids, different feel -- but definitely the same cool teachers and parent volunteers.

Unlike the older kids, these kids were all about moving place to place. They don’t just move place to place, they move in packs. They don’t just move in packs, they move in packs walking nearly shoulder-to-shoulder talking nonstop. The energy level is higher with the younger kids. They are clearly excited just to be hanging out and being seen.

The events of the night catered to the younger set. Like the older kids night – there was dancing in the cafeteria. However, fewer in this crowd actually danced – mostly they stood in groups and watched the “braver” kids dance.

There was also an open gym, open computer lab, an optional food drive, a Wii/game room, BINGO, a movie and concessions. Where the older kids had jousting – these fifth and sixth-graders had an inflatable half gym obstacle course.  The line was long and steady and the kids coming out the finish were sweaty and red-faced and excited to get back in line to try it again.  The course was rented and provided by the generosity of the St. Michael Albertville Women of Todaychapter.

The older kids had swimming, this crowd had a “candy walk” – think cake walk with Skittles and Snickers for prizes.

A video played all night and the quieter crowd enjoyed their screen time while eating the typical movie fare – candy.

Sixth-graders Donald Barthel, Kyle Engman and Brennen Baldwin were finishing their snacks as they shared what drew them to Activity Night. The Patch chatted with the boys as they worked their way through a pile of Reese’s candy bars and G2 bottles. Snacks were a big draw for them in attending, and all three lamented they “only had $20 to spend on food”.

When asked when they might be partaking in the rest of the activities, they answered matter-of-factly, “When all our candy money is gone”. They have a plan. “Well definitely be checking out the music – if it’s not too loud”.

Vice Principal Ben Bakeberg stayed constantly busy – moving in and out of rooms, weaving around packs of students, greeting parents and kids by name.

“This is great stuff. The kids love it and we like to see them enjoying their school and having fun.”

In the library, STMA West staff member Melinda Wendel is running a high stakes game of BINGO to a packed house. To spice up the game, BINGO would occasionally be called under a letter of the alphabet – the winner having to form that shape on their card with BINGO chips.

Wendel calls out the “H” card as the next BINGO card.

“Can we use an ‘S’ card next?” one student asks.

Wendel pauses then answers, “I’m pretty sure I don’t have an S card. We typically stick to straight line letters.”

The student nods as he peruses the table of prizes and holds up the one he hopes to win.

You guessed it – candy.

Sixth-grader Tiffany Mauer shares why she plays BINGO -- “the candy!”

Clearly the evening’s planning team researched their end user well.

STMA East teacher Kari Brett estimated there were 500 students attending that evening, which was roundly considered a success.

Sixth-graders Joe Wimmergren, Tanner Songstad, Carter Reese and Emmanuel Akundu broke ranks and did not attend Activity Night for the candy.  As the four of them mugged and played around outside the cafeteria/dance room – Emmanuel shared their collective reason for attending, “We came for the ladies!”

Whatever the reason, the students came out in droves and thoroughly enjoyed the well planned, well supervised and well attended Activity Night.