Do you remember your first week in elementary school? Everything was new, from your friends, to your classroom, to your teacher, even the shoes on your feet. Our youngest students, from kindergarten through fifth grade, are busy this week navigating their first full week of school with lots of change afoot.

“A new year is full of new choices,” remarks Fourth Grade Teacher Brooke Gelber, “whether the student is brand new to SD or a fifth grader who has been here since kindergarten. It’s everything from ‘Do I want fruit or soup?’ at break, to ‘Whom do I want to play with at recess?’ As teachers, we are here to help students find ways to create connections, make friends, and find ways of belonging.” 

Many classroom details weave together to welcome students back to SD: creating classroom name tags and “All About Me” banners that help students know one another and promote friendship, catching up on what everyone did over the summer during circle time, and creating classroom rules together are important things done at the beginning of the school year. “This first week is when we learn our routines,” explains Director of Lower School LeaAnne Parlette, “such as where to put your finished work, where to store your backpack, and which hand signals we use to get the teacher’s attention if we need water or to use the restroom. All of this foundation-building is taking place now.”

“And as always,” adds Parlette, “playing games and having fun outside is one of the best ways to get any ‘new school year’ wiggles out, so that we can all settle into a fun year ahead of learning and growing.”