The sixth grade class at Polk County Middle School participated in a team building and leadership program on Friday, November 13, in order to get to know their peers and teachers better and to learn to work together on projects.

The days programming was created by Principal Hank Utz and the sixth grade teachers. Utz and the teachers wanted to help the students, who all come from different elementary schools, to get to know one another better and better prepare them to work together in the classroom.

The days programming was lead by Polk Middle teacher Jesse Wharton, who has extensive training in outdoor education, team building and leadership development.

Each sixth grade team participated in a three-hour program that consisted of a variety of games each designed to help build skills, or tools, needed to be a successful team.

Each sixth grade team worked together at the end to build a human PCMS on the football field.

The goals for the program focused on the students becoming better acquainted, breaking down barriers between different groups, helping students to identify, practice and discuss team tools that can be used throughout the year in the classroom and beyond.

Some of these tools included recognizing and respecting differences, sharing ideas, listening, communicating and cooperating, doing their parts, leadership, learning to follow and having fun together.