To Northwood Elementary School students and many students around the world, a dot is much more than a mark on a paper; it symbolizes the mark one can make on the world. Northwood kicked off the school year with a common theme from The Dot, the classic storybook by Peter H. Reynolds, and students were asked to think about what mark they wanted to make on the world.
Available in English and many other languages, the book shares the story of a girl who begins a journey of self-discovery after a caring teacher challenges her to “make her mark.” What begins with a small dot on a piece of paper becomes a breakthrough in confidence and courage, igniting a journey of self-discovery and sharing, which has gone on to inspire countless children and adults around the globe.
What is now known as International Dot Day, which is officially celebrated on September 15, sparked an entire week of celebration for the Northwood school community. After reading the book, students worked on art projects that incorporated the theme. Laurie Steele-Sperber and Emilie Sears, art teachers, had their students each design a dot that made up a giant tree. They also had students create a map of the world with fingerprint dots.
“It’s so neat to think that children all over the world, regardless of what language they speak, are reading the same book and celebrating creativity in different ways,” said Julie Rapp, library media specialist.
At the end of the week, the whole school gathered in front of the building where representatives from each grade talked about how they planned to make their mark on the world. Another group of students held giant dots that spelled out “Northwood,” and each grade level dressed in a specific color. Dotted balloons in that color were released at the end of the assembly.
Each year, Northwood chooses a theme to unite the school community. This year’s theme ties into the International Baccalaureate learner profile, which encompasses 10 traits that students aspire to be – inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open minded, caring, risk takers, balanced and reflective.
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