We have learned that promoting interactions between younger and older students is a great way to foster care and compassion.
With this in mind, we have a system of care where students are assigned to one of 20 school families comprised of at least one student from each class. These families sit together in school celebrations and work together on various school assignments, such as health projects to promote smoke- and drug-free behaviors. We also have a buddy system where students form a pair to work together on classroom assignments, such as math and reading, or to attend school-organized field trips.
We challenge our seventh- and eighth-grade students to lead by example. This includes the expectation that they will model responsible conduct for the younger students to see. These older students are also given the chance to serve on the student council and help organize school events, such as our Monday morning assemblies.