Fifth graders will act as school ambassadors by designing a student-friendly welcome playbook and optional video pieces that help incoming scholars understand what it means to live the Rise mission, vision, pledge, call to action, Girl Code, core values, and school rules. Through research, discussion, performance rehearsal, writing, illustration, and critique, students will answer the question of how to help new students feel excited, informed, and ready to lead, collaborate, and persevere at Rise. The work culminates in a gallery walk and informal presentation for other students and school leaders, giving students a real audience for feedback and revision. This experience builds belonging and identity while strengthening collaboration, communication, problem solving, and performance skills.

Students will collaborate in teams to design and revise a welcome playbook and optional video that clearly teaches incoming scholars the mission, vision, call to action, pledge, Girl Code, core values, and school rules. They will practice effective speaking, listening, performance, and presentation skills as they discuss ideas, rehearse, respond to feedback, and present to peers and administrators. Students will analyze real school situations and choose words, visuals, movement, and layout that help new students understand how to lead, collaborate, persevere, and care for the community at Rise. They will reflect on how well their work creates excitement, belonging, and clarity for incoming students, then use feedback to improve quality and impact.

Students will create brainstorming boards, value-sort charts, script drafts, storyboards, and prototype page layouts as they research how to introduce the school’s mission, vision, call to action, pledge, core values, Girl Code, and rules to new scholars. Teams will develop a welcome playbook with illustrated pages, student-written advice, fold-out sections, and student-friendly examples of how to lead, collaborate, persevere, and solve problems at Rise. They may also produce short welcome videos or performance pieces that rehearse synchronized movement, speaking parts, and clear staging for a live informal presentation. By the end, each team will present a polished playbook and companion media piece during a gallery walk and walkthrough for students, administrators, and incoming scholars.

Start with a “Welcome to the Nest” launch party where teams rotate through stations featuring sample welcome books and videos, school artifacts, and photo prompts about daily life at Rise. At each stop, students leave sticky-note ideas about what incoming scholars would need to feel excited, informed, and ready to follow the mission, values, Girl Code, pledge, and school rules. Include a brief administration meet-and-greet so students can hear what matters most for helping new scholars feel they belong and can lead the Rise way. Close with a team challenge to draft one big idea for their welcome playbook or video and share how it answers the essential question.

Host a “Welcome to the Nest” gallery walk where 5th grade teams present their welcome playbooks, fold-out pages, and student-made videos to other students and school administrators. Include short live performance moments in which teams recite parts of the call to action, pledge, and Girl Code, or act out examples of bravery, integrity, collaboration, advocacy, and innovation in real school situations. Invite incoming scholars, if possible, to rotate through stations, ask questions, and try interactive features so presenters can explain how to lead the Rise way. End with feedback cards or sticky notes from peers and administrators on how excited, informed, and ready the exhibition helps new students feel.