Next spring, Tolman Elementary will host the Amazing Shake Competition, a contest that places an emphasis on teaching students manners, discipline, respect, grit, and professional conduct. Through the Amazing Shake, a competition originally created by the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, students are introduced to the nuances of professional human interaction as they are taught various skills such as how to give a proper handshake, how to provide high-quality answers in interviews, and how to remain composed under pressure. The true objective of the competition is to prepare Tolman students to present themselves exceptionally well for opportunities today, as well as those in the future.
At Tolman, nearly 300 students will experience numerous tests and challenges as they interact with community professionals from local businesses in “The Gauntlet,” a creative course consisting of several stations. At each station, students will provide their best display of professional tact with the hope of earning respectable scores from the community judges. After the conclusion of the Gauntlet, the top students will move on to subsequent rounds, which include “working the room” with executives, engaging in round-robin style speed questioning, and delivering speeches.
After undergoing several rounds with each requiring their own level of critical thinking, the winner of the Tolman Amazing Shake Competition will be named.
“By hosting the Amazing Shake competition, we hope to encourage our students to step outside of their comfort zone and discover what they’re capable of accomplishing, even when things get difficult. This type of grit is important for all students to develop," said Emily Sullivan, the school counselor.
In order to make the Amazing Shake a success, we are calling for sponsors from our own Tolman Community, as well as volunteers who are business owners/executives. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering or sponsoring this event, please email Mrs. Sullivan at esullivan@dsdmail.net. We are excited to watch our community come together to support our amazing students as they participate in the Amazing Shake!
At Tolman, we value productive suggestions. And we would like to hear from you! So we have created a survey to not only hear from you but to help us ensure we respond to all suggestions. (Sometimes emails get lost in our inboxes and conversations are forgotten... Sorry!) Click on the QR code to access the survey.