Meeker Rock Paper Scissors Tournament
Students at Meeker Elementary School spent part of their Leap Day afternoon in a rock-paper-scissors tournament in an effort to form even deeper connections. Students competed in a single-elimination bracket in their respective classrooms, followed by a one vs. one at the grade levels until a representative champion from each grade (Kindergarten through Fifth Grade) was crowned.
“We’ve been working on our sense of belonging at Meeker for both staff and students,” Meeker principal Lisa Clayberg said. “In January, all staff participated in a rock-paper-scissors competition as a way to connect with a variety of people. Students were enjoying watching the staff have fun and several mentioned they wanted to have a student competition. Knowing that student voice is an important part of feeling valued and connected, we wanted to provide a quick and fun way to involve the entire student body.”
In Meeker’s gymnasium, the finals took place with respective grades chanting the first name of their respective grade representative.
When the figurative dust settled, and with a sudden victory in the form of scissors, the first Meeker student body rock-paper-scissors champion emerged, Ramiah (Remy) from Mrs. Prochaska’s kindergarten class.
When reflecting on his rock-paper-scissors performance, Remy knew he could win it all and is appreciative of the support from his classmates for winning in front of the entire student body.
“I was confident,” said Remy. “I love them. I was very brave.”
This rock-paper-scissors tournament taught other lessons, too. Students learned about strategy, teamwork, and the importance of adapting to unpredictable situations. Additionally, it fostered camaraderie among the student body, as they bonded over their shared experiences and mutual love for the game. Beyond the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, Meeker students gained valuable insights into decision-making and risk assessment. In the end, the school-wide tournament proved to be more than just a game—it was a platform for growth and development, socially and mentally.
“Learning the social lessons about how to lose well and what it means to win and it gives them lessons for experiencing hardships,” Mrs. Prochaska said. “We talked about being a good teammate and cheering. We talked about going to [places] where people boo and what that means. It led to some great conversations about real life and what they’ve seen and experienced and what those feelings are. It was crazy fun.”