Kickin it up at Portal Elementary

I was contacted a few weeks ago by Mr. Paul Hudson, the principal of Portal Elementary School, about performing at an assembly that was scheduled for September 26th. I gladly accepted the invitation. This is the school that, on most days of the week, I get to walk down the kindergarten hall with my son as I drop him off for his day at school. So Friday came, and I arrived early to set up some equipment and to talk a little more with Mr. Hudson about the assembly. We had talked before about this assembly being a great way to "Kick Off" the school's success goals for the year. The assembly would address Attendance, Behavior, the Accelerated Reader Program, and all of the rewards that the students would be able to accumulate throughout the year for their achievements in these areas. Mr. Hudson started the event. Dressed in a Taekwondo uniform and a headband (that strangely resembled a necktie), he talked to the students about the various things that they would be able to receive for their hard work and perseverance.

After talking to the students, Mr. Hudson got ready to break a board. More than 450 students laughed and giggled as Mr. Hudson did his "silly" warm ups. He then called two students up to the stage to help hold his board. As he prepared to break the board, he stopped and said that he wouldn't be breaking the board. He had invited a professional to come by and break it. This was my cue.

The students clapped and cheered as I entered the room and proceeded to the stage. My part in the assembly was to reiterate the things that Mr. Hudson had talked about; Attendance, Behavior and Focusing on the Accelerated Reader Program (in an exciting and memorable way). To do this I brought some boards to break. My plan was to talk to all of the students at the same time but to challenge a specific group about one of the success goals that Mr. Hudson talked about. Then I would break a board "for that group".


I talked to the 5th graders first, challenging them to have the best attendance for the whole school year. Then, I broke a board for them - a knee strike. Next I talked to the 4th and 3rd graders. Their challenge for the year was to really work on having the best behavior of any grade at PES. I got Mr. Hudson to help me hold the board for this one, a hammerfist board break. The challenge for the 2nd and 1st graders was to do the best in the Accelerated Reader Program. At this time I grabbed my gearbag and pulled out about a dozen "things" that I like to read. I showed them magazines, newspapers, and several different kinds of books. (I have to tell you that some of the books that I used I borrowed from my son's bookshelf, so I had to clear it with him beforehand - He said it was OK) For the 3rd and 2nd grade break, I got Coach Parker to help hold for a jump front kick. During all of this excitement, the Kindergarten and Pre-K students were really doing a great job waiting for their turn, and it was finally here. Their challenge for the year was the hardest, to work on their focus in 3 important areas: listening, looking and thinking. After talking about how to focus these 3 areas, I broke an "oversize" board with an elbow strike.


The assembly lasted about 45 minutes. All of the students (and the teachers) seemed to enjoy it. Mr. Hudson did a great job as "Master Hudson" and I had a blast, as always.

As an teacher, motivational speaker and entertainer, I always hope that something good that I say or do will "stick" or "make a positive impact" with some in the audience . . . maybe only one. Hey, maybe that "one" is that little kindergartener that I walk down the halls with in the mornings on his way to class.