Finding Our Spirit: Champion High School completes School-Wide Read of Touching Spirit Bear

Students recently completed our school-wide read of Touching Spirit Bear, a powerful novel centered on accountability, healing, and personal growth. As a culminating activity, students worked cooperatively to design and build a totem representing their chosen spirit animal.

This project connected directly to the novel’s themes, as the totem symbolizes identity, strengths, and the journey toward balance—key elements reflected in the main character’s experiences. Working in groups required students to practice collaboration, communication, and empathy while honoring one another’s ideas and perspectives.

Through this shared experience, students strengthened social-emotional learning skills such as self-awareness, responsible decision-making, and relationship-building, reinforcing the message that growth and change are supported through reflection and community.