Currently, first graders are knee-deep in their social studies unit on community. They’ve been learning about groups of people within their family unit, neighborhood, and within various organizations like churches and schools. When it comes to their MICDS community, what better way to connect with the concept of community than by interacting with the incredible Rams all around them!
Earlier in the semester, students completed their “Me I Am” presentations where they learned about each another. Then, after a tour of the school in early October with our Admissions team members where students learned more about MICDS and our school’s history, first grade segued into interviews with and presentations by many different staff and faculty members here at MICDS. They learned how our leaders help and contribute to our community.
Check out some of the interviews and visits they’ve enjoyed in the latter half of the month in the galleries below!
Grounds Garage Visit on October 14 with Groundskeepers
On Monday, October 14, our two first-grade classes took a stroll down to the MICDS Grounds Garage. Here, they were met with all sorts of equipment that is put to work in maintaining our beautiful 100-acre campus. They spoke with Groundskeepers Jason Rajchart and Doug Greener, who shared information about what they do, from cutting the campus lawns to moving piles of dirt or rock when needed. The students loved asking about the various machinery in the garage space and were delighted to understand more about the hardworking grounds crew at MICDS.
Lower School Literacy Coordinator Presentation on October 22
In her talk with the first graders, Liz Crowder, Lower School Literacy Coordinator, shared that she teaches reading and writing lessons both in classes and with teachers. “I also research the best ways to teach and practice reading and writing, work with specialist teachers to incorporate reading and writing into their classes and programs, and teach reading and writing in large and small groups in our school community,” she explained. The students asked her several questions during her presentation, including what grade levels she works with, her favorite book, how long she has been teaching, and what grade levels she has taught. “I hope my presentation conveyed my enthusiasm and joy for sharing my passion for reading and writing with our students,” Crowder said. Crowder also read aloud one of her favorite classroom community books, All Are Welcome, by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman.
Meet the School Nurse on October 24
When the first graders met with Lower & Middle School Nurse Stephanie Presson, they asked questions about her role as a school nurse, when it’s appropriate for a student to see the school nurse, and her favorite parts of the job. She shared examples of school nurse roles and responsibilities, such as coordinating care for students with chronic health issues, first aid, and educating students on ways to stay healthy. First graders were shown several examples of why a nurse is a valued member of a school community. Presson shared, “This presentation was a great opportunity to educate our young students on ways to stay healthy…since healthy kids learn better!” While together, they read aloud a book called Sick Simon. In this book, Simon learns that being sick isn’t nearly as fun as he had thought! Presson then used examples and pictures from the book to reinforce healthy habits, such as handwashing and staying home when ill. “It’s rewarding to see how eager and excited our first-grade students are to learn more about my role as their school nurse,” she said. “I find value in relationship building and health promotion as a way to ensure our students are healthy, safe, and ready to learn!”
Interview with Head of Lower School on October 28
It was special for the first graders to have a visit from a very familiar face: Amy Scheer, Head of Lower School. They asked her what she does during the day, what she likes about her job, and what her favorite foods and desserts are. She shared a lot about what it means to be the head of a division (like a principal), what skills help her do her job, and what she loves about her job. “I hope they learned that a lot of the skills that I need are things that they work on in the classroom everyday—thinking about what others need, being a good listener so you truly understand someone’s problem, and being flexible,” Scheer said.
The first graders were a wonderful audience and good listeners during her visit. “I enjoyed talking to them about why I love working in the Lower School and how happy I am to do the work I do each day,” she said. “I also shared how much I love seeing how they learn and grow over the course of the school year. I added that Fourth Grade Recognition is one of my favorite days of the year because we celebrate everything that our students learned during their time in Beasley. I also talked to them about the fact that my dad was my elementary school principal when I was a little girl.” What a fun opportunity to get to know the leader of Beasley Lower School at MICDS!
Conversation with the MICDS Head of School on October 30
The first graders were really excited to get to interview Head of School Jay Rainey. They asked him where his favorite place is on campus (“I like them all, but Eliot Chapel would be my choice if forced to choose.”), where he likes to travel (Virginia), what his favorite animal is (“Golden Retrievers, but if we’re not counting pets, then hedgehogs.”), what his favorite reptile is (a salamander), and what his favorite food is (pizza).
“I talked about my job by saying that schools exist for students, and that my job as Head of School is to support teachers so that they can support students. This includes making sure that we have staff and programs and facilities in place to help teachers help students as much as they possibly can,” Mr. Rainey explained. He told them that a big part of his job is making decisions about how to make MICDS the very best school it can be, and that these decisions are often very difficult. He showed them the difference between an easy “red light/green light” decision and a more difficult “is it more green or more red?” decision. “I told them that while I can’t promise that I will always make the right decision, I can promise that I will always try very hard to do so,” he shared. “What I hope they heard is that leadership is not about being right all the time, but about caring and working hard for others.”
Learning about Food with the Assistant Director of Dining Services on November 1
The community interviews were rounded out with a final visit by Chef Olga Goumas, Assistant Director of Dining Services – FLIK. The students’ overarching question for Olga was about what her role is in the MICDS community, but they also asked about her favorite pasta shape and about the name of her cat. She shared information about herself such as where she’s from, her favorite hobbies, her love for food, and the role of a dietitian. She went into detail about her roles in the MICDS community—ensuring daily meals and snacks are ready, creating a safe and inclusive environment, and educating students about food and nutrition. She concluded that community helps you learn, grow, and be the best you can be!
“Overall, I hope the first graders learned that without the MICDS community and the people I interact with daily, I would not be able to fulfill my role of creating a safe, inclusive dining environment where every student receives lunch and snacks,” Olga stated. “I encouraged them to think of their own lunch tables as a little community where they can practice taking care of each other so that each person can feel safe and comfortable in the dining hall. The goal is that this translates to outside the dining hall!”
Overall, our first graders have a much deeper sense of the MICDS community, the various roles our leaders hold, and how our School family learns and grows together after these exciting visits and interviews. As Crowder stated, “Ms. Gillis’ and Ms. Campbell’s first-grade students did a remarkable job interviewing community helpers at their school, asking thoughtful questions, and learning firsthand about the important roles each person plays in supporting our MICDS community.” What a beautiful, thoughtful, and supportive community we have, Rams!