“What design would you like to add to the New School-West flag?” – Isla

While creating start and finish flags for our ramp games, the children discussed the idea of having a New School-West flag. Together they have been exchanging ideas of what should be on our flag. As the conversation continues, we are finding some threads and look forward to seeing how collaboration on one flag can reflect our school’s identity.

The first group began with the school’s name and that feeling of belonging that we all adore.

Archie: We need something that says New School-West.

Aiden: Or abbreviations.

Luscia: Or it can say ‘New School-West Come Here’.

Aiden: Or ‘New School-West Come In’.

Olive: Or ‘Welcome to Our School”.

After a neighborhood walk to Mark Twain Middle School, the children were introduced to school mascots.  Mark Twain is the home of the Sharks, Beethoven Elementary is home to the Bears and then there’s the Wildwood’s Wolves.  This spurred on a dialogue about what our own school mascot might be:

Isla: Home of the squirrels. We should choose an animal that works hard because we work hard.
Ozzie: Gophers makes holes to hide in so dogs don’t eat them.
Archie: Home of the turtles since we have turtles.
Aiden: We should do New School-West for New School-West abbreviations. N.S.W.
Theo P. It’s a road so people know where New School-West is.
Aiden: All people come a different way to school.
Isla: Maybe we can ask everyone how they get to school.

This lead to another small group discussion about mapping for the flag.

India: This is the beach.

Kai: This is the way to the beach.

India: Your idea is connecting to my beach.

Jacob: They walk here and they lay down.

India: They go up and down.

Jacob: This is the way to the sea.

Kai: The one to the lake goes here, this way, this way. Goes over two bridges.

Jacob: From the bridge to the lake to the beach.

Kai: A flag/map.

India: I made an “X” marks the spot. So if you want to go to the school or the beach.

The children continue to discuss the NSW flag during the day in casual conversations. Some new ideas are to draw our neighborhood and put it on the sign. We hope that this provocation will help us all reflect on “Who are we?  What do we stand for?  What do we want others to know about NSW?” – Teacher Jennifer