At Dorothy Fox Elementary, we believe student leadership is a key driver of belonging. Our school vision—to collectively create growth and belonging for all—means every student should feel seen, valued, and empowered to lead with compassion and purpose.

To bring that vision to life, we’ve taken a closer look at our school traditions—particularly those tied to spirit days. We realized some of our well-intended spirit day practices were inadvertently creating exclusion. The fun didn’t feel universal—and that undermines the sense of community we strive to build.

So, we shifted.

Rather than relying on themed dress-up days alone, we began designing monthly, schoolwide events that invite meaningful participation from every student—regardless of background, access, or resources. These inclusive redesigns, guided by both student and staff voices, have transformed school spirit into a powerful tool for equity, agency, and connection.

From Theme Days to Inclusive Celebrations

Here’s how we’ve reimagined some of our longstanding traditions:

• From Grade-Level Colors to Favorite Color Day and Data Activity
  Rather than assigning colors by grade—often highlighting who didn’t participate—we created Favorite Color Day. Students group by color and form a human bar graph for a schoolwide drone photo. Everyone is included as an important data point, and we turn spirit into a joyful, schoolwide math experience.
• From Halloween Costumes to Character Day and Costume Lending
  Character Day near Halloween invites kids to dress as any character—real or imagined—and share the stories of the characters with a buddy orally or as a shared comic. Thanks to family donations, our “costume shop” allows any student to borrow an outfit or item. Participation and creativity both soared.
• From Pajama Day to Comfort Day and Stuffie Adoption Table
  Comfort Day lets students wear PJs or cozy clothes and bring a small stuffed animal. Student leaders run a Stuffie Adoption Table at school entry where anyone can choose a plush friend for the day. This student-led innovation increased inclusion and leadership.
• From Spirit Gear Fridays to DIY Fox Ears and Mascot Meet-and-Greet
  First Fridays now include visits from our mascot and handmade Fox Ear Headbands—over 500 created by volunteers. No gear? No problem. Every child can show spirit and feel part of the Fox family.

Other small but impactful touches include green sticker giveaways for St. Patrick’s Day, mustache-drawing stations at recess, and a stash of funny hats and socks available to borrow—all designed to foster joy and belonging.

Elevating Leadership Through Service

True leadership grows through action. That’s why our monthly spirit themes extend beyond dressing up to include opportunities to make a difference. For example:

• Earth Day includes a schoolwide beautification project.
• February’s “Fox Love Month” features a community service project where each classroom “adopts” a resident from a local senior living home, creating handmade valentines to brighten their day.
• Food Drive Bag Design included bag art that went home to encourage bringing items for donation

These projects help all students see themselves as leaders—as someone who can positively impact their school and community.

Cross-Age Buddies: Leading by Connection

Our Buddy Classrooms pair older and younger students to participate in these monthly activities.  They read together, complete service projects like no-sew blankets for the Linus Project, and build lasting friendships. These relationships have become a valued part of our school that provides opportunities for older students to lead and mentor—and younger students feel known and supported.

The Courage to Pivot

In schools, good intentions aren’t always enough. When traditions fall short of our values, we must be willing to pause, reflect, and reimagine. At Dorothy Fox, saying goodbye to outdated spirit day norms made space for new rituals that center inclusion, belonging, and student leadership. We find when each student gets a chance to lead, the culture grows stronger—and everyone belongs.

Cathy Sork is principal of Dorothy Fox Elementary in Camas, Washington.