School spirit is essential to build a sense of community at your school. Most of the schools in UAE especially international schools e.g. British schools in Dubai work hard to strengthen pride that is explicitly felt all over their building. Have you thought why this is so important? The reason for this is that this spirit and pride has a direct influence on student’s behavior and learning capabilities.
Ways to enhance school spirit in students
There are multiple ways through which schools can enhance school spirit in students. Here are mentioned few:
1. Facilitate socializing
As a school, you can take your whole school community together for gatherings like the school year. Facilitating teaching staff, parents and students to socialize, help to build a sense of community in them.
2. Paint student's faces with your school colors
You can ask your art teachers to showcase their talent by painting students’ faces. You can schedule this face painting activity on annual days or prize distributing ceremonies.
3. School uniform
A traditional yet modern uniform that is designed by keeping in minds the local climate of professional schools like British schools in Dubai also makes students feel part of a more significant community.
4. Can commemorate school history
To instill students and teachers with a sense of pride, you can even dedicate a whole day to rejoice in your school’s history. On that day, they can dress up in a way that reflects the school’s colors or mission statement.
5. Themed days
School community can also dedicate a day in a week as a themed spirit day. It is essential to break the routine and keeps kids excited about their school. Themes may be like decade’s day such as the 60s, 70s, 80s, silly shoes or backward day etc.
6. Arrange a “Meet the Team” gathering
To infuse a school spirit in your community, get your community engaged and involved. You can organize a gathering where all your football team, basketball team etc. get a chance to meet with the community.
In this way, your community gets a chance to get involved and thus strengthens your school spirit in them.
7. You can also designate a school song
A school song is a way that can create lasting memories in the mind of people. If you have a student that has exceptional singing talents you can employ his talent.
You can give him an opportunity to sing in one of your annual prize distribution ceremonies. It will not only be a positive exposure to that student but also helps to implant a valuable impression in the minds of the attendees.
8. Celebrate a Community day
Parents value those institutions that show care for the community. You can observe a day in which you can invite parents, teachers and students to participate in community service. You can observe trees planting days, visit old homes or clean up footpaths.
Taking Home message
Schools and teachers in UAE Schools that try to strengthen school spirit instill a sense of pride in their young learners. This pride is essential for the students in the British schools in Dubai as they will better own their school and thus take more interest in their academics.