TA: an important part of the school day

By SARAH KESSLER
Room 210 Staff Writer
Every morning we get out of bed, throw on some clothes, comb our hair, and then head out to school. When we get to school, what is the first thing we do? We go to our TA classrooms.

Mr. Jason Weaver, one of the TA leaders at South Middle School, said, "The purpose of TA is to build community." Throughout the year, TA classes will compete in several activities that include team competitions such as tug of war and free-throw basketball shooting contests. TAs will also work together to raise money for the Cerebral Palsy (CP) Center in Web City and they will collect canned goods for the Salvation Army.

These activities aren't the only things that TAs do. Each TA is required to make a banner to hang outside its classroom and, if they choose, TAs may compete for points with a "TA challenge." These challenges can consist of anything from making a scarecrow for Halloween, to naming the freedoms listed on the Bill of Rights.
The 20 minutes spent in TA each morning can be beneficial to the student in many other ways, as well. For example, if a student doesn't finish his or her math homework, then he or she can finish it during TA. TA also gives students a chance to socialize with friends and just relax. TA is a very important part of the school day at SMS.