Assemblies

Photo: Andrew Pedri ’28 (center) took home Best of the Best honors this past year with his engaging presentation on Multitasking. Finalists Ethan Ungemach ’29 (right) and Philip Benyo ’27 (left) also wowed the audience with their poise, preparation, and standout performances. The Best of the Best contenders stand with Head of School Mrs. Theresa Long (far left) and Assembly Coordinator Mrs. Katherine Zucco (far right).
The MMI Student Assembly Program is a cornerstone of our commitment to developing confident, articulate, and engaging communicators. Through this program, all MMI students gain meaningful experience in public speaking, research, storytelling, and presentation skills that will serve them well in both future academic and professional settings.
Beginning in September annually, students in grades 6-11 will work with their class advisories to select topics, conduct research, prepare outlines, and learn how to tell stories effectively. Students will have access to resources and guidance through MMI’s learning management system, Canvas, as they develop their presentations. Each student will then have the opportunity to present before their peers during one allocated Assembly period with MMI’s seven-day schedule. Assemblies are expected to take place from October through March.
The program provides an authentic platform for students to develop and demonstrate their ability to craft compelling narratives, incorporate relevant research and multimedia tools, and deliver presentations with confidence and poise. Students also learn to listen to and engage with the ideas and experiences of their classmates, creating a shared learning experience across the MMI community.
For seniors, the Student Assembly experience takes a collaborative approach. Working with their Open House Capstone groups, seniors will create a video presentation in which each student speaks for at least five minutes. Students will work together to develop a cohesive presentation, thoughtfully transitioning from one speaker to the next and incorporating a clear introduction and conclusion. The project provides seniors with an opportunity to apply the communication, research, storytelling, and collaboration skills they have developed throughout their MMI experience.
We believe every student has a unique story to tell, and the Student Assembly Program gives each student the opportunity to find and share that story. Presentations will be evaluated using the MMI Student Assembly scoring form, providing students with meaningful feedback as they continue to strengthen their communication skills. Students who earn an Excellent (E) rating will receive a prize, and the highest-scoring presentations will be recognized as the “Best of the Best.” These outstanding presenters will have the opportunity to showcase their assemblies before the entire MMI student body and receive special recognition for their accomplishments.
The MMI Student Assembly Program is a tradition that many alumni remember with gratitude, often recognizing the confidence and communication skills they developed through the experience as an important advantage in college and beyond. Mrs. Katherine Zucco serves as the coordinator of MMI’s Student Assembly Program.
