The buzz about the Detroit Lions incredible playoff run has certainly seeped into the classrooms and hallways all across our district throughout the month of January. Every week after a playoff game, the students and staff were decked out in their Detroit Lions gear and started the day talking about the game.
On January 24, ahead of the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers, Hamilton Middle School and Blue Star Elementary held a ‘Detroit Lions Honolulu Blue & Silver Day’, allowing their students and staff to show their support one more time before the big game! WZZM News even came out to do a story on the fun at HMS! CLICK HERE for the WZZM link!
With a snow day before this particular day and no school on the following Thursday and Friday, the idea was all about increasing student engagement and excitement.
"Having structure and routine for the kids can be really difficult, especially after several snow days," said HMS Dean of Students, Ken Lentz. "We thought that with this being the last day of school this week, one of the ways we can increase attendance and enthusiasm in this building is to bring the Detroit Lions to the forefront today and letting the students wear their uniforms, swag, hats, and just be middle schoolers!"
Some classes even took it a step further. Middle school teachers Brooke Statema and Jodi Hansen allowed each student in their classes to write down a score prediction for the NFC Championship on their dry erase boards.
"When I first heard that we were wearing Lions gear, my dad told me and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I am so excited,'" said Hamilton sixth grade student, Anabell Williams. "The first thing I did this morning was run into my closet and yell 'It's Lions Day!'"