Exploratory Days at RCIS are a collaboration between the Art, Music, Library, and Physical Education departments, school administration, and the greater Richland Center community. The goal? Engage kids in learning in ways the traditional school day does not allow.
During Exploratory Days, students rotate through “stations” where they participate in activities revolving around each week’s theme. Themes have included diversity/inclusion, teamwork, school pride, and fire safety. Exploratory Days often feature service learning and community guests, who donate their time to engage our students in new experiences. They've included:
- Teambuilding
- Tie-dying and Public Library Cards (featuring Brewer Public Library Youth Services Librarian)
- Screen Printing/Block Printing (featuring Brett Iverson - Pioneer Printing)
- Homecoming Fun (face painting, plunger races, all-school photo)
- Fire and Power Line safety (featuring RCFD, Richland Utilities)
- 4-H Week (featuring 4-H leaders, Tiny Acres Farms, and Meissner’s Hoof Care)
- Spooktacular Fun
- Veteran’s Day (featuring local Vets)
- Kindness Day
- FFA Day (featuring the RCHS FFA)
- U.S. Army/Operation Gratitude (featuring Chief Warrant Officer 4 Nicholas Grob)
- Karate, “Stop” technique, and Mindfulness
- Vaping and Drug Use
- Trumpet Technique and Record DJ Party (featuring Amie Twining on trumpet and Craig Woodhouse of Mastodon Records)
- School Clean-Up day
Exploratory Days were a huge success in their inaugural year!
“I had students who loved the Exploratory Days so much, they were asking to come to school on Friday, when we were closed to students for a staff in-service. Luckily, they were excited when I told them we would have an Exploratory Day on Monday instead.” - Sierra Calabria, the General/Instrumental/Vocal Music Teacher for grades 4-6, who proposed the idea of Exploratory Days
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