The Community Builders (CB)
This program trains groups of 5th graders to be leaders and mentors for Community Root's youngest students. Community Builders, known as CBs, are trained, through the use of the arts, to help resolve conflict and work with our younger students. CBs have shifts where they help with Kindergarten through 2nd grade lunch and recess duty. During these shifts, the 5th grade CBs assist with lunch time, play with the little friends, and organize group games. CBs also read with the younger students in their classrooms at morning arrival time. When asked to relfect at the end of the year, the 2010-2011 Community Builder's had this to say about how they will continue to build community.
Community Roots Step
The Community Root's Step team is for 4th and 5th graders and meets twice a week during recess time. During practice, our step team members learn about this rhythmic form of dance and practice beginning step moves. Step team members help each other learn new steps and work together to sound unified and harmonious.
Learning through Service & Action
LSA (Learning through Service & Action) is an after-school program for 4th and 5th graders that explores the idea of learning through community service. Students in the program discuss the meaning of service, meet and interview local community activists, and volunteer together at the Atlantis Care Center. Students brainstorm the issues they are most passionate about and develop their very own service project to roll out to the whole community. LSA is encouraging our young friends to take ownership of the issues they see and then translate that into action.
Class Buddies
Community Root's Class Buddy program matches every K-2nd grade class with a 3rd-5th grade buddy class. At least once a month the buddies get together to share their learning and spend some time with one another. By reading together, sharing their writing, and playing outside, Community Root's older students serve as brothers and sisters to the younger Community Roots students. Buddies also attend each others' culminating events and have a lunch and recess together.
Family Sing
Every Thursday morning, after student drop-off, adults are invited to the music room for Family Sing. The Grown-ups sing together and learn the songs their children are learning, as well as their own songs. Family Sing helps to build community and bring Community Root's families together from across the grades. Family sing also allows our families to be more involved in the singing portions of our monthly all-school meetings.
Community Open Opportunity Kitchen School
COOKS (Community Open Opportunity Kitchen School) is an evening program that allows Community Root's families to learn new recipes and cook together. Each week a different parent in the program shares a recipe while everyone follows along making their own. At the end, the whole group shares the delicious meal together. The purpose of COOKS is to allow an intimate space for building an authentic community.
All School Meeting
Each month, the entire Community Roots family comes together for our All School Meeting. Our time together is filled with songs that the children sing on each grade and as a whole school. It is an opportunity for us to share together and gather the families, children, and staff to celebrate our community.