Teach Like a Pirate Day and
family formal dining photos below -
It could be the most popular schoo lweek of the year – and yes, several learning opportunities make up the curriculum.

Bluffton Middle School students participated in the annual Teach Like a Pirate Day on Dec. 19.

From 8 a.m. to noon students traveled among their four core teachers and spent an hour doing activities that they would not normally do. Students rotated between teachers after each hour ended. 

For example, students rode a homemade hovercraft, about two inches above the floor, operated by a leaf blower. In another classrooom traditional ("old-fashioned") board games with holiday touches were in progress.

Gingerbread villages were under construction in a third classroom. And a build-your-own catapult with a competition to see whose could toss a flying object the farthest took place in the second floor hallway.

On the day before, middle schoolers experiences their first-ever "family formal dining" during lunch time.

With table decor, students dressed up and had low lighting, centerpieces and holiday instrumental music as part of the dining experience. Teachers ate with the students and supplied homemade desserts.

Family formal dining photos by Jamie Nygaard