This week, we welcomed our friends Chloe, Colin, and Christoph into the Aloe group. They had been online with the Mint group. We asked the children how we could make them feel welcome.
Mars: We can make cards for them.
Mira: We can make a sign like we made for Elliot. We can draw on it and when it’s ready, we can put it on the glass. Maybe we can put it in the mailbox.
Elliot: We could make one big portrait like the one the Dandelions made for us. We can put all our pictures on there and put it on a frame.
Everly: Maybe we can make a bouquet.
Keaton: Maybe we can make so many notes and put it in their mailbox.
Eve: We can give them a plant.
The group debated the merits of each idea and agreed to make a sign so that they could all enjoy it.
While creating the sign, we shared the idea with the Basils and they contributed too:
Tallulah: We can write, “Welcome back to New School-West” on the sign. Penny, do you want to see Colin through the window? Look, there he is!
Penny: There’s Chloe! I used to like to play in the ball room with her.
Elliot: We can add all of our pictures so they know it’s from all of us!
Eve: Let’s add Uma, she’s nice.
Elliot: We can add Jen.
Susan: Why do you think it’s important to add Jen?
Elliot: Maybe they are missing Jen a lot. I used to do Zoom with her too. They’re going to like that we are making them a sign. I bet Christoph, Colin and Chloe are going to feel welcome.
Susan: What do you think it means to feel welcome?
Elliot: It means happy and nice. I remember when you made me feel welcome when I came back to school. I felt loved.
Back in the Aloe Vera group, we noticed that with this welcoming energy, the children found unique ways to express their excitement in their play.
Amy: Christoph, Chloe, and Colin were in the Mint group and now they are joining us.
Poppy: Yes. They are joining the Aloe Vera group.
Santiago: Yes, they are here with us now.
Amy and Adriana ask the children to reflect on their play together that morning, hoping to build connections through shared memories.
Dillon Ray: Colin, what were you playing?
Colin: We were trying to find a ball in this hole.
Christoph: We lost the blue ball in here.
Dillon Ray: I can support you dig.
Colin: We found! We found it!
Christoph: Dillon, you are a good friend.
Uma: I can help you too.
Poppy: Chloe, we can build a castle for the ponies?
Chloe: Yes, this one is the mommy. I love working with the ponies and you, Poppy.
Adriana: How does it feel to be back?
Chloe: I feel happy. I love the ponies!
Christoph: It’s fun. I feel loved when I’m playing with my friends.
Colin: I love the legos and making characters with Christoph. I feel happy.
At our core, New School-West values relationships. An integral condition for nurturing and sustaining relationships is through an attitude of welcoming – an ongoing process that invites an openness towards oneself and to others. One of the ways we foster a culture of welcoming is by listening to the children’s thinking and celebrating the ways they wish to express their connection and love for those friends who are re-entering school. It was amazing to see the close connections the children in the Mint Zoom group have with each other and how as they re-enter the on-ground group more relationships begin to develop.