ROGERS, Minn. -- Students file into the gym at Rogers Middle School as the 8th grade band plays pop tunes, and teachers help the kids settle into long rows.
Assistant Principal Bruce Jean takes the microphone, "Good morning!" Eleven hundred students answer back. "Good morning!"
It's the annual Respect Rally, which helps kick off the theme for the year, "Dream Big." This year's speaker, Nick Zerwas, knows all about that.
Diagnosed at birth with a heart defect, Zerwas has had a lifetime of beating the odds. Doctors told his parents he probably wouldn't live past age six. Multiple surgeries and interventions followed, and at age 14, Zerwas was told he should prepare to die.
He didn't give up, and neither did his doctors. Zerwas is now an Elk River city councilmember, and Target employee. "I'm one of the oldest living people with the surgical interventions I've had," said Zerwas, who summed up his philosophy for RMS students.
"Tomorrow is a mystery -- today is our gift," he said. "'It's the only thing I have control over. It's the only thing you have control over."
Staff at Rogers Middle School want students to know they can control their environment at the school, by demonstrating respect for themselves and each other. "Trying to provide the most positive environment here in school that we can," explained school counselor Sarah Whiting.
She is one of a group of staff members who create a new curriculum each year at Rogers that is implemented in students' advisory classes.
It's known as the Character Program, which includes the school's WEB team, Where Everybody Belongs. Eighth graders act as team leaders for incoming 6th graders to ensure a smooth transition from elementary to middle school.
"Make 'em feel welcome in the school, show 'em around," said 8th grader Amanda Penick.
Feeling lost is easy in a big school, explained 8th grader Bailey Surprenant, who is also a WEB leader. "When I was a 6th grader, I kind of came in scared, but I really got help from my WEB leaders."
It's all about being on the same team. To illustrate the point, Assistant Principal Jean oversees the activity that caps the morning event, a giant school hug.
"Let's spread out a little bit," urges Jean as students file out of the gym, surrounding the school and take up their positions.
"OK, everybody link up."
Jean issues the order into is walkie-talkie, and 1200 students and staff clasp hands and raise their arms with a giant cheer.
Then, it's done. Students laugh, high-five each other and head back into class. This is the only time they will do this, as Rogers Middle School does this just once every four years.
The kids know it's something that makes their school special.
"It's fun, when everybody sees these things -- people will go and talk about them," said 8th grader Natalie Baccam.
(Copyright 2011 by KARE. All rights reserved.)