For many current and former Tyrone middle school students, their favorite middle school memories involve the SOAR assemblies in the middle school gym.

SOAR assemblies are fun filled events dedicated to celebrating the success of middle school students for demonstrating core SOAR values. SOAR is an acronym that stands for Striving for Success, Observing Safety, Acting with Integrity and Respecting All. Students are reminded of these core values every morning by saying the SOAR pledge.

“The SOAR assemblies are a time for students to forget about work and get an opportunity to be with their friends and watch some pretty goofy stuff go on,” said math teacher and SOAR assembly Master of Ceremonies Michael Kraft, “It gives the kids an opportunity to let loose and compete in a fun and energetic atmosphere.”

The assemblies are conducted at the end of each marking period to celebrate students who live up to the SOAR community standards. The most recent SOAR assembly on February 2 had a Super Bowl Tailgate theme.

Students and teachers were chosen to participate in games like nitroball, castleball, tic-tac-toe, rock-paper-scissors, and this year’s student favorite, the bouncy ball relay.

The bouncy ball relay involved students and teachers racing up and down the gym on a large inflatable balls. At one end of the gym, participants had to put a nylon stocking over their head with a tennis ball in it. The student or teacher would then attempt to knock over a designated amount of pins with the tennis ball.

“The relay was probably one of the most energy-filled events of the afternoon,” said Kraft, “Watching four teachers having to do that is priceless for students, I’m sure, especially when one teacher falls off of the bouncy ball.”

The students competed in teams with the teachers. The student teams were created by the students themselves. The teams that got to participate in the games were drawn at random from all entries.

“My favorite part of the assembly was my team winning in nitroball,” said eighth grader Reese Wood, “Competing against the seventh graders was really fun.”

After each event, two names were drawn from each grade level. The students chosen would get a slip for free cookies redeemable at the Eagle Roast Cafe.

“I’m super excited that I won some free cookies from the cafe,” said Joshua Patterson, winner of the cookie raffle, “I used my free pass last Tuesday and the cookies were really good.”

The committee of teachers and staff that plans the SOAR assemblies is Erica Burger, Kaylee Kenepp, Matthew Kimberlin, Steve Stoner, Gary Aharrah, Rhonda Dodson , Deanna Mazurak, Megan Hartman, and Jenna Owens.

For Kraft, he was especially excited about this particular SOAR assembly because he got to take on a larger role this time and learned about all the hard work that the committee does to make these events happen.

“I took the place of M.C.  for Mr. Kimberlin so I was able to sit in on the meetings of the SOAR assembly committee,” said Kraft, “The hours and time they put in to make this event happen is incredible.  The students don’t really know what happens behind the scenes, but I can say it is amazing what that committee does.”