That’s a lotta food! DCES fifth-graders Jensyn Reef and Souly Whitaker stand in front of a portion of the 6,789 cans of food collected by two “Survivor” tribes for a challenge which ended Dec. 11. The food was donated to the local Food Basket Program. Photo provided The stage at Delphi Community Elementary School was transformed into “Oracle Island” Dec. 11 for the third schoolwide ceremony to award students in “tribal councils” for “Survivor” achievements this year. Teachers and staff worked with students, utilizing a theme based on the television show “Survivor,” to help them understand they are part of a community because the school is a community member. The first “challenge” of the year was focused on fitness. The second was about homework as a responsibility.

“Give It Your All” was the latest challenge, and was dubbed a “charity” challenge. Students were encouraged to collect 5,000 cans of food for the local food basket program. According to organizer, DCES physical education teacher Cheryl Natterman, students exceeded the goal and collected 6,789 cans of food to donate.

The ‘Tribal Council’ has spoken Tribal council leaders (teachers) took the stage Dec. 11 to learn which tribes would remain and which would be booted off “Oracle Island” as part of Delphi Community Elementary School’s latest “Survivor” challenge – “Give It Your All.” The charity contest was an effort to help students learn about what being good community members means to them. Photo provided Natterman explained that students did a variety of chores at home and school in exchange for cans of food. Each classroom is a “tribe” and teachers are the “tribal council.” The school has two “tribal councils.” There was a ceremony for each council after every challenge concluded. The tribes who were out-performed in the challenge were “voted off” Oracle Island during the ceremonies.

The first tribal council included the first and second grades, plus students in the high ability classes for those grades. The winning class was Deborah Hyman’s first-grade class, named “Spirit Tribe.” The winners in the second tribal council, which includes third, fourth and fifth-grades, and the high ability classes for those grades, was Parker George’s fourth grade class called “Georgezilla Tribe.”

Natterman explained that a committee of eight teachers worked out the details for the month-long programs. However, each challenge has been a whole-school effort. She said all of the teachers, administrators, parents custodial staff and community members helped with planning and implementing the festivities and teaching tools.

“I watch the show,” she said during a break in the first Dec. 11 tribal council ceremony. “I wanted to do something fun here at school to help students understand how they are part of the local community.”

“Adults model community behavior,” she continued. “The ‘tribe helps all tribal members succeed. Students learn there are leaders and there are followers and it is okay to be what they are.”

The food was donated to the Food Basket Program. Delphi FFA members loaded two pick-up trucks and trailer after the challenge concluded. The students worked two hours and made two trips to the Delphi Armory to accomplish the mission.