Milan Middle School students showed their school spirit Friday – by staying quiet.
At the school’s first-ever Silent Assembly, about 500 students entered the gym, sometimes holding up their fingers to their mouths and signaling “sh,” while other students held signs reminding others to stay quiet. The loudest sound was the stomping of feet as students climbed the bleachers.
It’s a stark contrast to a typical pep rally, where noise levels can exceed 100 decibels.
“For some of our students the noises can be really disturbing and even make it so they can’t participate,” said Milan Middle School Principal David Middlin.
As students entered the gym, they reminded each other to stay quiet.
Silent Celebration
Throughout the month, students had practiced alternative ways to celebrate, including doing the wave, giving thumbs up, using the American Sign Language sign for clapping, crossing their arms and nodding, and using facial expressions and gestures to express their excitement.
They put those skills into action as they recognized eleven students of the month, who received silent applause from their peers.
Melissa Angstadt, music director for the school musical, Newsies, led students from the cast in singing Seize the Day a cappella, to intentionally reduce noise for students sensitive to sound. The performance was followed by quiet cheering.
In addition, students had a chance to see Sylvie, one of the school therapy dogs, and be reminded about the ongoing Penny Wars, a fundraiser where students donate their spare change to raise money for the Humane Society of Huron Valley and Leader Dogs for the Blind.
Students from the cast of Newsies sang Seize the Day a cappella, to intentionally reduce noise for students sensitive to sound. After the performance Principal David Middlin thanked the performers while those in the audience cheered silently.
Inclusion Month
The assembly marked the culmination of Inclusion Month, a student-led effort to promote understanding of neurodiversity and encourage kindness.
Over four weeks, student leaders from National Junior Honor Society and Big Red Buddies created videos and activities teaching peers about Down syndrome, ADHD, autism, and the impact of derogatory language.
They used materials from the national Spread The Word Campaign, founded by two youth leaders.
“Understanding that people with neurodiverse brains exist and thrive in this world is one key step to being inclusive,” students shared in one presentation. “Remember everyone is unique. We should include everyone.”
Speech Language Pathologist Katy West also invited two Saline High School Students to participate. Her son JP West and his classmate Theo O. Jack, whose parents are deaf, starred in the American Sign Language Sign of the Week videos beginning with the word “include.”
The silent assembly and inclusion month were organized by West and Math Interventionist Jennifer Barker to teach students their power to build an inclusive school where everyone feels welcome.
Barker advises National Junior Honor Society, while West leads Big Red Buddies. West said the volume at this event was about half of that of a typical assembly.
“There’s no clapping, but there’s other ways to show excitement,” said sixth grader Brendon Gehring, in one student video.
Speech Language Pathologist Katy West (left) and Math interventionist Jennifer Barker (right) organized inclusion month to teach students their power to build an inclusive school where everyone feels welcome.
Positive Response
Also in attendance, were parents of students of the month and Superintendent Ryan McMahon.
McMahon said this is the first time he’s known of a silent assembly in the district, but that he was “impressed.” Their principal agreed.
“Five hundred middle schoolers the last 20 minutes before spring break were all able to silently assemble to celebrate inclusion in our schools,” Middlin said.
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