Spirit Week 2026: A Week of Creativity, Leadership, and Student Voice
The American School of Advanced Studies recently celebrated Spirit Week, October 26–30, (a senior-led initiative organized by Grade 12 students Ana Gachechiladze and Barbare Iashvili.) bringing together students and teachers through a series of creative, engaging, and community-building activities.
From Teacher–Student Swap Day to Anything But a Backpack Day, Dress As Your Childhood Self Day, Crazy Socks Day, and Halloween Day, each day offered students a chance to express their creativity, step outside their usual routines, and strengthen the sense of community at ASAS.
A particular highlight of the week was Teacher–Student Swap Day. The activity gave students the opportunity to experience school life from a different perspective, taking on teaching, organizational, and leadership responsibilities, while teachers had the chance to experience lessons from the students’ perspective.
Reflecting on the experience, Barbare Iashvili shared:
“This week was proof of the great collaboration between the student body and the school administration. The administration was supportive and willing to listen to our ideas, which made it possible for us to turn our vision into reality. At the same time, Spirit Week was truly rewarding for students because it gave us the freedom to express our creativity and encouraged self-discipline and responsibility.”
She added that Teacher–Student Swap Day was particularly meaningful for both students and seniors:
“Students were excited to have lessons with seniors, while the seniors really did their best to create real lessons and adapt them to the teaching styles of the teachers they were replacing, both in terms of content and presentation. It was a great challenge, but also a valuable experience.”
The experience also gave students a new appreciation for the work teachers do every day. As Barbare reflected, some of the students who participated as the teachers were unable to participate in their regular classes the following day because of the workload involved in preparing for and participating in the swap.
“That made us realize just how hard our teachers work for us every day and how much they do behind the scenes. Experiencing even a small part of their responsibilities gave us a completely new appreciation for their work.”
ASAS Spirit Week 2026 was a celebration of student voice, creativity, leadership, and community—and a reminder that some of the most meaningful learning happens when we step into someone else’s shoes.
