In the Primer classroom, every morning begins with a community circle. Students speak with kindness, patiently take turns, and make eye contact with one another. Every child's voice is heard and perspective is considered, laying the groundwork for our youngest learners to develop empathy.

We approach all of our activities with that same sense of love and understanding. We want to show the children that we care for them, and we then want them to extend that same caring toward others. We see the community attitude that we foster at work in small interactions all day long, in places like the playground. Outside, students are not required to play with each other, and yet we see them split up into groups, inviting each other to play. We hear giggling and see smiles as the children engage in imaginative play. We also see it in the classroom when students make arts and crafts, having conversations with each other all the while. We see it when, unprompted, our students stop what they're doing to greet any visitors who may enter the classroom.

It's not always about the camaraderie and bustle of group activities. Sometimes, we lead the students on nature walks through God's Acre, allowing them to calmly take in the beautiful scenery of the Downtown Campus while checking in with their thoughts and feelings. This quiet reflection time is important for developing mindfulness, which we know has countless benefits and allows the children to appreciate the time they spend together. 

The connections we create are more important than ever this year. No matter what happens beyond our classroom, we know that our children will be able to respond by showing others the love and understanding that they show each other every day in school.