On Monday, December 8th, Fraser High School brought in the Lion Heart Experience– a pep assembly designed to inspire and connect with high school students across the country.
Joe Vercellino created the “Lion Heart Experience” as a way to connect with students and share his message. He speaks on the purpose of the assembly.
“It takes the struggles of young people– bullying, anxiety, depression, suicide– and we come up underneath those struggles and we use visual art, and we use music, and we use story to remind young people of an inherent sense of self-worth.”
Vercellino was a music teacher in Detroit before creating this experience. In his first year of teaching, he met a fifth grade boy who would come to be known as rapper Tae Sosa. The two of them work together to write and produce music, which is a huge focus of their assembly experience. They shift between storytelling, advice, and musical performance to portray their message.
Sosa gives insight on his musically-focused part of the assembly.
“We travel around and we help kids reconnect with a sense of identity… you will hear it in my music and the things that I’ve been through.”
Vercellino and Sosa also collaborated with Mr. Ryan Sines, Fraser High School Principal, to design the best experience possible. This included working with both the Fraser Varsity Dance Team and the Fraser Drumline for a finale performance in each assembly.
Mr. Sines shares his thoughts after bringing the Lion Heart Experience to Fraser High School:
“Honestly, it was one of the most powerful, engaging, and emotionally charged assemblies we’ve ever hosted. Lion Heart didn’t just deliver a message; they delivered a moment. A moment of connection. A moment of vulnerability. A moment of, ‘Wow… our kids needed this.’”
They ran the same show three times to split up the students throughout the day. In first block, freshmen and half of the sophomores attended. Second block housed the entire senior class, followed by a break for lunch during third block. The day wrapped with juniors and the other half of the sophomores during fourth block.
Senior Carolanne Hammer enjoyed the pep assembly and left feeling inspired, she tells us.
“Lion Heart was something unique that fostered engagement within our student body and brought something new to our school.”
Junior Cody Finley attended the final show of the day and had a blast. He was even offered a microphone and was asked to join in with Vercellino during one of the songs.
“I definitely enjoyed the assembly because we don’t have many like that. It was a great time.”
Everyone involved had an amazing time. Vercellino and Sosa delivered an entertaining, inspiring message for Fraser High School students and left them with unforgettable memories of the Lion Heart Experience.
