Dec. 9, 2016 -- In the short days leading up to Thanksgiving break, students in schools across the country learned about the first Thanksgiving, hosted classroom feasts, or perhaps even took a critical look at the treatment of Native peoples by the American government over the centuries.
Roxboro Middle celebrated in an entirely different fashion, with a rousing game of dodge ball, pitting students against their teachers.
It wasn’t all fun and games though. Students had to donate 20 food items for the Heights Emergency Food Kitchen in order to participate or $4 for their sister school, Dougbe River Presbyterian School of Liberia, just to sit in the auditorium and watch (correction: just to stand in the auditorium and scream). Even teachers had to pay up, covering the cost of their students’ admission if they chose to spend their Tuesday afternoon playing instead of teaching.
The event was an overwhelming success, with 3,800 pounds of food donated and more than $700 raised, breaking the previous year’s record and far surpassing the building’s goal of 2,000 pounds and $300. The Heights Emergency Food Kitchen was thrilled with their bounty as they prepare for the busy holiday season ahead.
Student Council president, eighth grader Jayla Lewis, oversaw an aggressive awareness building campaign in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, complete with morning announcements and student-created posters. She gave two equally compelling reasons for this year’s success: “Students want to give back to their community. But they also want to get back at their teachers!”
Teachers seemed eager to get back at their students too, with 15 to 20 participating, many fully decked out for the occasion. Student Council advisor Lia Radke was spotted in a pink “muscles and mascara” tank top and guidance counselor Mike Murray sported a LeBron-style sweatband.
The rivalry was intense, with students on their feet cheering on their classmates. Seventh grade social studies teacher Linda Honey-Dixon served as emcee and wasn’t afraid to playfully taunt the student athletes, bawking like a chicken at anyone cowering against the wall.
Teachers proved themselves worthy as they handily beat the sixth grade team, amid many protestations of cheating from their students. “Those teachers went back in after they got hit!” said sixth grader Maurian Bobo. “But I still had fun.”
Honey-Dixon did too, playing “Another One Bites the Dust” over the loud speaker as the seventh graders fell to their teachers.
Finally, it was the eighth graders’ turn. Nearly 100 of them took to the gym floor with grave faces, posturing and strutting in front of their teachers. Their sixth and seventh grade fans stormed the stage and began chanting, “Let’s go, eighth grade!” as the showdown began.
It was back and forth, back and forth, until just one lone teacher remained on the floor. Eighth grade special education teacher Keith Vance knew it was over and turned his back to the students with his arms outstretched toward the sky. “I figured I’d have my LeBron James moment,” he said, after getting pummeled with balls from nearly 30 kids.
With about 20 minutes left until the final bell, the staff called for a match between the sixth graders, many still looking like children, and the seventh graders, who are undeniably adolescents. The younger students tried to redeem themselves but just couldn't hold their ground.
Gabriella Quintana, a petite sixth grade girl, was one of the final three remaining. She came off the floor flushed and panting, but satisfied. “Oh my gosh! That was just so hard! I am horrible at throwing so I just had to dodge and the balls were coming at me so fast and I was running around like the Energizer Bunny… but I still had so much fun.”
And that, perhaps, was the point. What looked like a mix between a pep rally, rock concert and riot was really an act of community building, according to math teacher Paul Gustafson.
“Things like this give us all something to look forward to. It’s nice to have fun with the kids every once in a while. And tomorrow, we’ll all reflect on this game… because we’ll be so sore!”