Throughout the school year in Wylie ISD, we have Wylie Way Days that help students learn important life lessons. Some students think that these are just days we do no work, chill out and do absolutely nothing productive. But in fact, Wylie Way days are a time we can learn important lessons about ourselves that can help guide us in the future.

One main question students have is why do we have Wylie Way days and why are they important? Assistant Principal Tammie Sullivan says that “Wylie Way Days give students the time to reflect on who they are, what they care about and what kind of future they want to build. It also helps students connect their learning to real life.”

For Wylie Way Day, there are different themes used to go along with each day. There are specific groups of people who think about what the themes could be and the lessons taught.

“So there are some guidelines that the state has asked us to kind of do. The district looks at what are some things that we need to do that can help students with their character development that kind of go in line with what the state wants us to do,” chemistry teacher Scott Johnson said. “Then we break into groups. It’s like, ‘Science, you guys work on the ones that go with science’ and ‘English, you work on the topics for English.’”

During Wylie Way Day, there are important topics that come up regarding a student’s future, such as what occupation interests them or how to get through certain road blocks in life. These conversations are important because they are lessons about the real world.

“I feel like these are important [conversations] because the messages that we do during the lessons, it’s more than just the academics. It’s the pieces to help students build character, build their confidence and really know that they have a purpose,” Sullivan said.

Sometimes more than just the students are taking away important lessons on Wylie Way Day. Teachers are also learning valuable information and life lessons on those special days.

“One of the things that I did actually last year, one of the things that I feel I did better at, was kind of how to organize and plan my timing. How to go, ‘ok this is the time I have’ and saying ‘ok during that time I have to do these things or I’m not going to get it done,’” Johnson said.

So when the next Wylie Way Day comes around, don’t automatically think that you won’t be learning anything that day. The district creates these lessons in order to start conversations between the students that will help them have a better understanding of themselves and life. So, next time pay attention and you may learn an important lesson that you can carry with you out into the real world.