Student Creativity and Leadership Shines at Tommie Barfield Elementary

Decorating mini pumpkins for fun around Halloween time has been a tradition at Tommie Barfield Elementary (TBE), but this year, teachers and students took the tradition to a “historical” level. In honor of the 25th anniversary of Marco Island being a “city,” the staff at TBE decided to celebrate the 25th anniversary in a traditional, yet unique, tribute to the milestone. Yes, they used pumpkins (Styrofoam, this time) and the challenge was to show scenes or history of Marco Island including a description of the creation.

Well, to say that these creations were outstanding is an understatement! I’ll show you some of the over 100 entries in this year’s display and, hopefully, you will be as impressed as I was at the creativity of these amazing students. These creations were displayed in the main hallway entrance of the school, where they were very visible to students, teachers and visitors (like me) who “oohed” and “aahed” in amazement and appreciation.

Their creations were unique, intuitive and demonstrated understanding of their island paradise and depicted scenes that I didn’t think they would notice! This just shows how you can underestimate the abilities of elementary students and probably all students for that matter. When presented with a challenge, they rise to it and emerge with flying colors.

While visiting Tommie Barfield Elementary School, I also had an opportunity to watch a student-led recognition program for students who had achieved milestones, such as Perfect Attendance for Quarter One, excellence on testing results, maintaining positive progress and much more. Go back and read that sentence again, yes, I said student-led recognition program!

TBE is a “Leader in Me School,” one of many leadership incentives by author Stephen Covey. Students are not only taught leadership skills, but learn to implement them in their daily lives, in the classroom and outside of the classroom. Learning to think critically helps students analyze their progress and make changes as needed to pursue forward progress.

The student leaders, who planned this assembly to honor fellow students for their achievements, displayed creativity, music, pom-poms and energy. The attendees, students, staff and teachers were excited to see what form the recognitions would be for the students seated on the floor facing the stage. 

It was an invigorating program, to say the least, by recognizing the leaders on the stage and the leaders in the audience. As they announced the categories, the students came forward from the audience, followed the directions by the student leaders on the stage and were honored by walking through a gauntlet of students cheering and waving pom-poms and enthusiasm for the other students’ accomplishments.

Students stood to be recognized as they carried their certificates with pride. There was no doubt in my mind that they would continue their achievements, both in leadership, academics and citizenship in the future.