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[quote=Anonymous]I hear the point about the value of larger schools and a broader potential friend group but will weigh in to say how wonderful our small K-8 has been. With one class per grade, it is almost like a family where kids feel a deep connection to each other regardless of specific personality match. Sure, some kids are closer than others but there is a general camaraderie and embrace of a wide range of personalities.

Importantly, the school does a lot to foster a sense of inclusion, kindness, and a focus on social emotional learning. For example, last week was “Belonging Week” where each day they engaged in age-appropriate discussions about how to ensure all members of the community feel welcomed and embraced. The school has a very strong culture and they work hard to make it counter culture to exclude kids who might have that experience in another school.

I feel like my quirky & awesome DS is genuinely loved and appreciated by his peers and kids in other grades, as well as the faculty and staff. And, importantly, he has that feeling toward others with whom he prob wouldn’t connect at a larger school where it’s more about finding your clique. there isn’t a condescending tone of “cool kids please be nice to the weirdos” which inherently backfires and makes people feel othered or like a charity case—  rather, there’s a focus on helping all kids and adults see each other for who they are and the special things they bring to the community. It’s really quite extraordinary.

Overall, whether you choose a small school or large school, ask the school how they foster a culture of inclusion and connection across a range of personalities and interests. I see a lot of intentionality about this at DS’s school and it was pretty apparent to me during the application process which schools prioritized this and which didn’t.

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