CARIBOU, Maine — Each year, the Caribou Middle School does a school-wide read; the book of choice this year was “Outcast United,” by Warren St. John.
As written on the national bestseller’s website, “Outcasts United is the story of a refugee soccer team, a remarkable woman coach and a small southern town turned upside down by the process of refugee resettlement.”
The culmination of the school-wide read was a Theme Day on April 18, and from the first morning bell to the end of the day, students learned about different countries, different ways of life, and ways people can work together even if they don’t speak the same language.
One activity students did to exemplify how to work together without a common language took place in the cafeteria, and Principal Leland Caron said it was probably his students’ favorite activity of the day.
“They had to speak in signs or a foreign language, and they had to build a tower of straws and make it stand the best they could, working together; that was very interesting to see,” he described.
Students had passports they wore around their necks reflecting what countries they represented that day, and traveled from activity to activity with other members of their country — but the groups weren’t common classmates.
Keeping with the diversity theme of the book, groups consisted of students from all grade levels.
“Students always travel around as grades, but today they traveled around as a country and were mixed to help stress the diversity,” Caron described. “Even when they ate, it’s the first time ever we’ve sat down and had our lunches with sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students sitting down together.”
Something unexpected happened at lunch, too. Many students end up staring at their games, phones, pods and pads during lunch, as electronics are allowed during that time, but that didn’t happen during the Theme Day.
“I was looking around, and there were very few electronics out,” Caron said. “They were just kind of talking and it was a neat day, and a chance to get to know some other kids that they normally probably wouldn’t be involved with.”
Caron credited his creative teachers and excellent guest speakers for the overwhelmingly positive success of the Theme Day.
One student was even overheard saying it was the most fun he’s had all year.
