At Colorado Academy, we believe that connections are important, and these connections are essential not only in same-age peer groups but within the larger community across the Lower School. The Lower School FAMILIES program contributes to a sense of community and belonging through the grade levels and is a favorite for students as they move through 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 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.
When older students are placed in the role of mentor or leader, I have found that they rise to the occasion of serving as guides and advisors to younger students. This is something I have witnessed for over 30 years—older students love guiding students who are younger than they are, and younger students yearn for connections with older students whom they look up to and admire.
Community service is a common thread throughout each of our meetups, and each FAMILY completes an activity focused on developing community and connection during their time together. The FAMILY setting allows for children to develop social skills and a sense of belonging within a small-group setting. Being with an adult outside of their classroom or specialist classes also allows each student to develop a deeper relationship with another trusted adult within the school.
We met in late September for our first FAMILY meetup of the year. Everyone is always full of anticipation for the first meetup, as a Kindergartner is added to each FAMILY along with new students in Grades 1-5. Each FAMILY creates a crest to share something about each member, and they select a name. Most FAMILIES select a new name each year to share their unique style, and they collectively are very creative this year!
Our 45 FAMILY names for this school year include:
- Silly Rainbow Snoopies
- Pupcakes
- The Mountain Mix-Ups
- The Hogwarts Colorful CA Creators
- The People
- The Habanaps
- The Royal Shenanigans
- LABHASDA (Liam-Arya-Brodie-Henry-Aston-Slater-Dylan-Angie)
- The Smashers
- The Sporty Family
- The Wanted Goofy GooGoo LeBron Wal-Owl-Tick Duck Dog Kung Fu Swifties
- Alpha Sloths
- Blue Minion Bandanas
- Colorful Creative Creatures
- The Happy Puffins
- Pink Fluffy Unicorns
- The Playful Pet Family
- Mustang Mountain Crew
- Kindness Crew
- Mustang Nation
- Sonic Ice Cream Kitties
- The Creative Kids
- CA Artists Mustangs
- Kerns’ Crazy Kids
- The Fantastic Waffle Fox
- The G.O.A.T.S.
- Coach Beth’s Crazy Cookies
- Mountain Mustangs
- Da Ocho Donut Banana Rattlesnake Marshmallow Feastable Lovers (DODBRMFL)
- Incredible Inghams
- Wild Wiggling Rats
- The Adventurers
- Mountain Cookies
- Slammin’ Bananas
- Famous Fabulous Fluffy Flamingos
- Little Rascals
- Nice Cream Lords
- Crazy Grizzlies
- The Golden Gang
- Rocky Mountain Goat’D Minions
- The Sport Great 8
- The Emojis
- The Great Eight
- The Berry Good Family
- The Honeybees
As I was traveling through the hallways after our first FAMILIES meetup, it was so exciting to hear conversations happening. I heard faculty, staff, and students make the following comments: “Hi, FAMILY member; we are in a FAMILY together; my FAMILY has the best name.” There was so much enthusiasm about coming together as a small group.
Our plans for this year’s FAMILIES meetups include sharing about a tradition or celebration that each of us honors with our family at home, a sustainability scavenger hunt, a sidewalk chalk Kindness Message Challenge, creating Valentine’s Day cards for Mobile Meals recipients, and many more fun things!