Skyline Middle School Prepares for Global Unplugged Day

Skyline Middle School is gearing up for Global Unplugged Day this Friday, an event encouraging students to step away from screens and engage with their community. With support from the Warren County Coalition, teachers and local businesses have come together to make the day a success.

Sixth-grade science teacher Kaitlyn Meyer has taken the lead on the initiative, creating a special bingo board to encourage students to participate in offline activities. “We have some people from the local community donating things, so when our kids go out into Front Royal, they can participate in activities, get their bingo board signed, and bring them back next week to win prizes,” Meyer explained.

The event is designed to highlight the impact of excessive screen time. Principal Chad Burk noted that Global Unplugged Day aligns well with the school’s ongoing efforts to limit phone use. “We still have work to do in holding students accountable, but for the most part, students have done a great job keeping their phones in their lockers,” he said. “That will make Unplugged Day even better this year because we’re conditioning students to step away from screens.”

Community Support and Student Engagement

Local businesses have strongly supported the initiative, offering discounts or donating prizes for participating students. “We have about $150 worth of merchandise and prizes to give away,” Meyer said. “Students are excited to go out into the community and try to win some prizes.”

The school has been building excitement through morning announcements and classroom discussions. Meyer estimates that at least 30 students are already committed to attending an unplugged party on Friday, where they’ll take part in screen-free activities.

In addition to Global Unplugged Day, Skyline Middle School has been celebrating Spirit Week. Students have participated in themed days, including Hat Day, a blue-and-green school spirit day for the boys’ basketball game, and Pajama Day to encourage students to “dream about being unplugged.”

A Stronger School Community

Burk emphasized that these events contribute to a positive school culture. “It’s been fun watching our staff grow, which then impacts student achievement,” he said. Meyer added, “The effort our teachers put in is amazing, and they’re happy to do it, which makes all the difference.”

While attendance has been a challenge for schools across the country, Skyline Middle School boasts the best improved attendance rate among secondary schools in the district. “We’re going to continue working to get our students coming to school and learning because if you’re not here, you can’t learn,” Burk added.

Looking ahead, the school is preparing for SOL testing for eighth graders later this month. Meanwhile, younger students also benefit from curriculum updates, including the return of cursive writing in fifth grade. “It was just added into the new state standards that rolled out this year,” Meyer shared.

As Skyline Middle School prepares for Global Unplugged Day, teachers and staff hope the experience will remind students of the value of face-to-face interaction and time away from screens. With strong community involvement and enthusiastic students, the event promises to be meaningful.