Markham Place Students Draft their Own Constitution

Democracy was at the forefront of students minds at as the new school year began. The students’ first order of business for the year was to create their own constitution.

The process began with each homeroom coming up with five rules they felt should represent the entire school body. A representative from each class then brought these rules to a ‘constitutional convention’ on Friday morning to narrow down all the rules into five that would become the school’s constitution for the year.   

“The representative students worked hard to compromise with the group while still having their own homeroom’s voice heard,” said Principal Denis Morolda.  “The program brings together fifth through eighth grade students who must work together and make decisions as a group. It can be difficult for the fifth graders speak up around the older students, but they did extremely well.”

The Constitutional Convention is part of a larger program implemented within the middle school called . Every morning students begin the day with a morning meeting in their homerooms called the “Circle of Power and Respect.”  These meetings which are led by small groups of students provide a supportive and inclusive environment.  To lead the meetings the students must display self-control, assertiveness and responsibility. The Developmental Designs model works towards the education of the whole child, providing emotional and character education.

The final student constitution for the Markham Place 2011-12 school year is;

•             Have a Positive Attitude.

•             Be Accountable

•             Make a Difference

•             Be Yourself

•             Persevere