Those responses were turned into word clouds that now hang in the High School atrium, offering a visible reminder of what students said they need from one another and what they are willing to contribute in return.

The same intentionality shapes other parts of the opening weeks. Middle and High School students each spend four days camping at the beach, creating time for new students to become part of the group and for students and teachers to build relationships outside the usual rhythms of the classroom. Shared experiences, conversations, meals, games, and time outdoors all become part of creating the community they will return to on campus.

Families are brought into that beginning as well. Every parenting-adult is asked to attend a class meeting and Back-to-School Night, creating an opportunity for relationships between families and teachers to begin before there is a concern to address or a difficult conversation to have.

Teachers also write Letters of Intent to share with families. The letters offer a window into how each teacher is approaching the year: what they value, what they hope to explore with students, and the intentions they bring to their work and relationships.

“Our classroom will be a place where we discover our common ground and grow to understand and celebrate our differences.” 

– Excerpt from the 1st Grade Letter of Intent

These practices are different expressions of a similar idea. We build relationships before we need to repair them. We talk about responsibility before something has gone wrong. We ask students not only what they need from their community, but what they will contribute to it. We create connections between families and teachers before the year becomes busy.

None of this is meant to create a year without conflict or difficulty. Agreements will be tested, people will make mistakes, and relationships will sometimes become complicated. The point is to begin with a foundation sturdy enough to return to.

When things become difficult, we can ask: What did we say mattered to us? What did we agree we needed from one another? What is my responsibility in this moment? What needs attention, repair, or a different response?

The way we begin becomes part of the learning itself.