Willow Bend named a Mix It Up Model School

The Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) Teaching Tolerance program has named Willow Bend School a Mix It Up Model School for its exemplary efforts to foster respect and understanding among students this year.

“Mix It Up Model Schools have found innovative ways to create a school environment where respect and inclusiveness are core values,” said Maureen Costello, the director of the SPLC’s Teaching Tolerance program. “They serve as examples for other schools hoping to instill these values in their students, faculty, and staff.”

For more than a decade, Mix It Up Day has provided students across the country with an opportunity to move out of their comfort zones and connect with someone new over lunch. It’s a simple act with profound implications as studies have shown that interactions across group lines can help reduce prejudice. Many schools plan activities for the entire day, and some use the event to kick off a yearlong exploration of social divisions. Last year, 5,500 schools took part in the event.

Willow Bend is one of 77 schools from across the country to be named a Mix It Up Model School this year after meeting the following criteria:

• Hosting a Mix It Up at Lunch Day in 2011;
• Including different members of the school’s community—cafeteria staff, aides, administrators, teachers, and students—in organizing the event;
• Publicizing Mix It Up at Lunch Day and celebrating inclusiveness with posters, announcements, and other media; and
• Following up the event with at least two additional Mix It Up-related programs.

Paul Dombrowski, Willow Bend’s art teacher, said he decided to spearhead the school’s Mix It Up efforts after hearing countless tragic news stories about student suicides resulting from bullying.

“I was looking for ways to bring students together so they could get to know each other better and learn about everyone’s diverse backgrounds,” he said. “I read about the Mix It Up program online and thought I’d like to set up something like this at Willow Bend. I pitched it to the staff at Willow Bend and the idea was met with outstanding support.”

For Willow Bend’s Mix It Up at Lunch Day, student’s entered the lunch room, were randomly assigned a lunch table with students from different classes, and given a list of questions to discuss while they ate.

“We had teachers, program assistants, school administrators, and even our superintendent volunteer to give up their lunch hours to facilitate conversations at student lunch tables,” said Mr. Dombrowski. “The success was tremendous! It brought everyone closer together!”

In fact, students enjoyed it so much that the school has held multiple Mix It Up lunches and assemblies throughout the school year.

“After one of the events, a student said to me, ‘I met a new friend named Meha. Her mom was born in the same village as my mom,’” Mr. Dombrowski said. “So, from that day forward, those two were great friends. That’s just one story that tells how Willow Bend’s Mix It Up efforts are working.”

-Story Submitted by Community Consolidated School District 15