All-School Assemblies: Important and Improving

by SOPHIE STONE

Assemblies have consistently been a source of tension between Menlo students and administrators. Some students find them boring and would rather spend that time working. Others feel that, while at times boring, assemblies convey important messages and themes to students. This year, concern for attendance during assemblies has caused students to notice tighter restrictions on the parking lot and student center during assembly times. However, there have been significantly fewer assemblies this year than last, and the administration has taken time to make all assemblies target more specific topics and be more engaging for students. While there is still progress to be made, assemblies have improved significantly from last year.

This year’s assemblies have been noticeably more organized and efficient, with only a few encroaching into class time. “We always try not to cut into class time, so we change the day's schedule to accommodate the assembly. It is always a last resort to have an assembly during class time,” Coordinator of Student Activities Frances Ferrell said. According to Ferrell, the administration has cut down the number of assemblies held per year, aiming to hold an assembly about once or twice a month. This approach has effectively removed a lot of the more tedious and unengaging assemblies; however, there are still some changes that need to be made.

Certain assemblies simply can’t be taken away. Assemblies are an effective way to connect to the entire Upper School efficiently and communicate serious topics. The assemblies on safe driving, mental health and drugs and alcohol are issues that are essential to cover, and the entire Upper School should be present. These assemblies were generally better done than last year’s, with the administration choosing to bring in more guest speakers and play videos instead of using lengthy slideshows with overwhelming amounts of statistics. In these instances, presenting to a large group is better, as some students might feel pressured into a conversation when in small groups.

Assemblies are also an excellent way to recognize underrepresented groups of students at Menlo. While some of these assemblies have fallen flat in the past, this year, students from those groups have become more in- volved in planning these assemblies, making them more entertaining for audiences. “We really wanted our student leaders involved in planning them and leading them and it wasn’t just [Assemblies Coordinator] Sofia Labatt. [...] We empowered many of our students from different student groups to be part of the process and execution of the assemblies,” Ferrell said.

The administration has also put visible effort into varying the format of this year’s assemblies, with the most noticeable being the Lunar New Year Assembly. Rather than making students sit on the bleachers for the entire hour-long assembly, student participation was encouraged through activities such as relay races and competitions. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day assembly was also different from past assemblies, including a mix of videos, speeches and live music that students could sing along to. Assemblies like these promote student engagement better than ones where students are forced to sit and listen the entire time.

There will likely never be an assembly that students would prefer to attend over a tutorial or free period. However, that doesn’t mean those assemblies aren’t worth the time. Assemblies remain the best way for the entire school to hear about important issues and recognize different groups on campus. There is still progress to be made, but if the administration can continue to adjust assemblies to cater more towards student interests while still retaining their message, students may find assemblies to be an effective use of their time.