Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
STUDENTS WALK through the decorated hallways of Luther L. Wright K-12 School Friday. The halls are decorated in the spirit of "Choose Kind" in connection with the film "Wonder." Students are attending showings of the movie, which is about a boy who is bullied because of his facial deformity. It's also about the importance of being kind to others.
By RICHARD JENKINS
Ironwood - The Ironwood school district is letting its students skip class for a movie field trip, and hoping they take a more valuable lesson from the day.
The district's first through eighth graders are attending showings of the movie "Wonder" at Cloverland Cinema. Four grades of students watched the movie Friday and the other four will be at the movie theater Monday.
The idea to take the kids to see the film started small, according to Amanda Sprague, a parent who helped organize the effort.
"Well it started off with me trying to organize a trip for my son who is in the sixth grade and it just kind of snowballed," Sprague said. "Fifth grade wanted to go, fourth grade - so then I approached the (district's Parent Teacher Organization) and the PTO approved to pay for every child to go (in) first through eighth grade."
The movie is about a student who is home-schooled until fourth grade because of a facial deformity, Sprague said, and the difficulties he has once he begins attending a school and has to interact with other kids.
While the student is bullied, some students are really kind to him.
"It's a great movie about looking beyond those (physical) features," Sprague said.
Along with watching the movie, Sprague said teachers are doing a "Choose Kind" theme and volunteers helped decorate the Luther L. Wright hallways Thursday evening.
"The goal is to really change the atmosphere of the school and bring some positive vibes in," Sprague said.
She said she loves trying to help people and be a positive person.
"This is my passion. I love positive things," Sprague said. "I really enjoy seeing people getting along and making a difference and making others feel welcome and cared about."
She said even the idea of opening up the field trip to other grades was a small example of something positive.
"So many people helped make this happen," Sprague said. "I love that."
