Salmon River’s Shamrock’n Lock’n 2008

The idea to have an overnight event at Salmon River began six years ago when 4 women were brainstorming ways to share commonalities among our diverse student population. Salmon River students matriculate from several different elementary school backgrounds including the elementary school at Salmon River, the St. Regis Mohawk School, and the Freedom School. This means that Mohawk students are bussed away from their familiar elementary locations to join new classmates at the main campus school. Taking into consideration these circumstances it was decided that in order to have a successful event, a clear program goal incorporating a philosophy of student leadership training, safety, supervision, social adjustment, accountability of students and staff and most importantly, the true empowerment of our youth. All of these requirements were generated in a discussion with high school students and staff. It was agreed that in order to address these objectives, a sleepover involving a myriad of students along with several informative workshops could be held at the main campus high school.

As these ideas developed, various high school student clubs such as the National Honor Society, Health Club, Mohawk Club, and The Drug & Alcohol Prevention Program were invited to discuss and provide workshops for the event. The students came up with the “Shamrock’n Lock’n” as a name to describe this overnight event. The 5th and 6th grade students were chosen as the target group who would interact and become acquainted with each other in a supervised overnight setting at the high school. This decision was prompted by the fact that all of the elementary students shared the commonality of “moving up” from an elementary school to a new high school environment was pretty scary for most students.

The high school site was the logical choice so that all students could take a look around their new environment in order to become more comfortable with the new surroundings when they begin their junior high and senior high experience. This event also allowed making new friends easier when you have a shared common experience such as the Shamrock’n Lock’n.

The philosophy behind this event is to lessen the multicultural differences among our students who will be merging in the 7th grade by providing a recreational and educational forum prior to their entrance into the 7th grade setting in the fall. The staff began networking with the aforementioned community prevention support agencies that deliver information and educational prevention material to be used in a rotating workshop setting for the students.

Students and parents from the 5th and 6th grade completed a Lock’n application and a signed a code of conduct contract to be admitted to this event. The students that were accepted were given an admission ticket to bring with them the day of the lock’n.

On March 28, 2008 at 6:00 pm students started arriving with all their gear to sign in and prepare their sleeping area in the library for girls and the elementary cafeteria for the boys. At this time the students meet their team leaders and the fun began and it was time to use their imagination and creativity as they went into the cafeteria to create their own name tag with different craft materials.

Students were taken into to the gym area at 7pm for “getting to know you” ice breakers. Pizza and beverages were provided for our hungry campers. At 8pm students were asked to volunteer to break up into two groups and alternate on the hour, one half to swim and the other half to have ice cream sundaes in the cafeteria. Lifeguards Marc Plante, Kim Hance and Chris Lewis were on hand to monitor the students in the pool. Around 10pm all the students settled down to watch Ratatouille, a g-rated movie. Snacks and drinks were provided and of course two boys said they thought it was boring but they did sit through all of it. Everyone then went to their areas to try and get some sleep ha, ha. Students and staff were warned that they had to get up at 7 am to begin their day.

Saturday came too soon for some. A buffet breakfast was served with all the trimmings by familiar cafeteria staff. The students broke into to teams to receive their color coordinated tee shirts as they got ready for the first speaker.

Opening the day’s event was motivational speaker Joe Trionfero, who got kids hopping and moving using music and his tremendous personality of getting character education across to these young people. Before long he had them in the palm of his hands, answering questions, raising their hands with the outmost enthusiasm. Treating others the way you would want to be treated, identifying a bully and bully language, and what “you” could do about the situation that would be safe and smart, putting yourself in other people’s shoes and making good choices. Wow, what a jam packed workshop.

Students began by attending one of five workshops that were held at 10am, 10:45am and 1:00pm. A Smoothie workshop, social dancing, drug & alcohol prevention workshop, character education, sneak peek at 7th grade were listed as options. Sneak peek was done by first timers, 7th graders Frankie Jo Davis and Summer Rain Herne. Mrs. Lazore reviewed the evaluations given the students. Most students rated them as excellent and very good with a suggestion for next year too add sports to the video. Great job girls!

Jreck’s six foot long subs, pizza, spaghetti, fruits, pepperoni and cheese platter and beverages were provided for lunch.

Team Olympics were started at 1:45 and some of the games that were played were save the chick, 3legged race, and the spoon & egg race. After the team Olympics student staff that were observing all the 5th and 6th graders got together to choose the students that they felt that earned recognition by presenting them with a custom made certificates created by Mrs. Lazore.

Most cheerful: Keira Jacobs & Connor Walrath

Craziest hair: Molly Brockway & Marc Mainville

Most enthusiastic: Katrina Martin & Cole Phillips

Sportsmanship: Abby Kelly & Kendrick Swamp

Best smile: Alanna Bingham & Mark Francis

Best Listener: Brooke George Mitchell & Kevin Pehush

Best team player: Cierra White Skidders & Memphis Garrow

Future Shamrock Leader: Becca Leroux & Alex Patenaude

Motivational speaker Joe Trionfero closed this event with his recap of the golden rule and how to be a good person. Joe had 103 students doing the chicken dance without hesitation. It was awesome and a memorable sight to see and watch all the children laughing, happy without a care in the world. Each student can walk away with tools to begin their journey to be global citizen.

The committee would like to say that each year the lock’n follows the same agenda and essential the same format and structure. We start organizing this event in November of the school. We also would like to give a big thank you to all the people that helped us get the 6th annual Shamrock’n Lock’n off the ground. See you next year!