Ecko Article, March 30, 2007, written by Larry Christensen)

Eckstein has a unique place called the Gameroom

This semester the Eckstein Gameroom is celebrating its 5th Birthday!!

For those of you who don’t know, our Gameroom is a very unique place created by the Counseling Department to offer an alternative to the usual lunchtime options Eckstein’s students. We knew that not every student felt comfortable in the lunchroom, or liked to play basketball in the gym or spend their lunch break in the library. They wanted a place to relax with their friends and just have a great time.

Originally the Gameroom, located in room 125, only offered a small selection of table games with which to play. But, over the years, the number of participants and the program grew to embrace a much wider variety of activities and interests. We soon began offering group games for anyone interested and this proved to be very popular. Playing Bingo on Wednesdays has been a hit for years. Then, we started celebrating Fridays by giving every Gameroomer a FREE bag of freshly made popcorn. We then added another group game on Mondays, Team Pictionary, which is highly competitive and noisy. For students who need more active outlets we offer ‘Dance Dance Revolution’ on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In addition, we recently purchased a tournament quality ping pong table and Foosball table which are heavily used daily.

Gameroom is a lively place characterized by a very positive camaraderie amongst the students who consider it to be their special lunchtime destination. They are friendly with each other, cooperate with the simple rules of the room and really pitch in to help set it up as well as clean it and transform in back into Ms Anex’s science classroom in time for 6th period to begin.

The counselors view this program as one more way that Eckstein Middle School demonstrates caring about all of our studen’ts social and emotional needs. Lunchtime in the Gameroom is a time that many kids look forward to, and the fun they have there makes school a positive, inviting and safe place to be. Maintaining this vital program has been the commitment of the Eckstein’s administration by supporting the needs of the ‘whole’ student, both in and out of the classroom. Additionally, both the PTSA and the ASB have made contributions to the program that total about 25% of its operating costs while the rest is made up by private contributions.

Recently Eckstein’s Gameroom has come to the attention of the District Prevention /Intervention Department as a unique program in Seattle Public Schools promoting a positive safe school environment. Yeah!

Happy 5th Birthday Gameroom and many more!!!