In October, we launched the FAMILIES program in the Lower School. A FAMILY consists of one adult and a student from each grade level (K through Grade 5). A FAMILY will typically have 7-8 members, and each FAMILY remains together during a student’s experience in the Lower School. The goal of FAMILIES is to connect students across the grade levels, provide an adult mentor for each student, and offer older students an opportunity to lead and support younger students in a small group setting. Community service is a common thread throughout each meet-up, and each FAMILY will complete an activity focused on community service during their time together.
During the first meeting, each FAMILY created a crest that included a signature from each member, words about themselves, and their favorite days of the year. Some of the favorite days included Diwali, Jackie Robinson Day, Halloween, birthdays, Hanukkah, CA Spirit Day, first and last day of school, Thanksgiving, Ramadan, Pajama Day, Christmas, 100th Day of School, and the list goes on and on. Sharing our favorite days provided an opportunity for each student to share about themselves and meaningful days that they may celebrate and enjoy through the year.
A FAMILY name is also on the crest, and many of the names are extremely creative. Our 45 FAMILY names are:
- The F.A.B. (Friendly-Awesome-Brave) Family
- The Wacky West Waffles Family
- Must-Care Mustangs Family
- The Library Family
- Mega Wild Tiduckdog Pizza Fruits
- Smart Crystal Family
- Fantastic Friendly Family
- Fabulous, Funny, Fluff Flamingo Family
- We Share the Love Family
- The Patterson Pandas Who Make Pancakes Family
- The 9 Einsteins
- We Are Family!!!!!
- We Are Respectful and Silly Family
- Wild Mustangs Family
- Fun Fun Funny Family
- The Amazing Ice Cream Family
- The Funny Tigers Family
- CA Mustangs Family
- The Smart Heart Happy Family
- The Grizzly Axolotls
- The Party Animals
- The 5280 Family
- We Are Sportsmanship Family
- KCHOMMPEO Family
- CA Spirit Party
- La Familia del Encanto
- The Courageous Creators Family
- The Artistic Athletes Family
- We Are a Helping Family
- Sweet Athletic Animal Family
- United in Harmony Family
- The Game Gang Family
- Pancake Pinatas Family
- The Energetic Family
- The Waffle Loving Family of Joy
- The Friendly Family
- Silly Stickerers Family
- We Are Worth it Family
- We Are the J.E.F.F. Family (Joyful-Encouraging-Fun-Family)
- The Ice Cream Lords Family
- The I.A.C. Family (Inclusive-Artistic-Connected)
- The Greatest of All Time Goats Family
- The Difference Family
As I was traveling through the hallways on our first day of FAMILIES, it was so exciting to hear conversations happening. Faculty, staff, and students made the following comments: “Hi, FAMILY member; we are in FAMILY together; my FAMILY has the best name.” There was so much enthusiasm about coming together as a small group. We so look forward to our next FAMILIES meet-up together and completing a service project together.