Schools
Music Mondays Gives Eisenhower Something to Be Proud Of
Music fills the halls and ears of Eisenhower Jr. High thanks to Music Mondays.
Principal Mike Fitzgerald has always encouraged students to come to him with new ideas. So when then-sixth-grader Kelly Sunde came to him two years ago asking for music during passing periods, the two collaborated to invent Music Mondays.
Every week a different student turns in a list of songs to be played through the hallways while students change classes. Teachers nominate students to be the Music Monday maestro for doing something positive, such as helping a classmate.
“We basically made it into a recognition system,” Fitzgerald explained.
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Aiden Kelly was most recently given the honor of choosing music for . He will be competing in the DuPage District competition next week for the chance to go to Washington.
But students aren't the only ones who participate in Music Mondays: Teachers and secretaries are included as well. Last year four retiring teachers shared some of their favorite music with the school.
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Sometimes the staff has had to get creative in order to recognize several deserving students. Eisenhower's had Tunes Tuesdays and We Love Music Wednesdays to make sure no one was left out.
Fitzgerald says he must preview the songs beforehand to ensure they have clean lyrics and content. Sometimes he recruits the help of some young teachers because they are more familiar with the kind of music the students listen to.
The student chosen for Music Monday is recognized several times throughout the day during announcements. Sometimes the announcement includes the reason for the recognition, but Fitzgerald explained that students do not always want to be singled out because they fear teasing.
A total of eight songs are played throughout the day during passing periods. Depending on the student or teacher's selections, there could be anything from the Rolling Stones to the Black Eyed Peas filling the halls and ears of Eisenhower Junior High. The halls are sure to keep rocking for years to come: Fitzgerald said he has no plans of ever discontinuing Music Mondays.
