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Full Circle Moments from JK to Grade 12

12/6/2024

Exceptional schools encourage and assist students to realise their potential and are designed to equip them for success and fulfilment in the world beyond. SMLS, in its all-girls, three-schools-in-one community is ideally positioned to give girls these gifts early on with the opportunity to nurture their skills over the course of their entire school journey from JK through Grade 12.

It’s easy to see how our older students benefit from having Junior School students in their midst. Engaging with younger students drives empathy, encourages role modeling, and brings a certain joyfulness to our school environment.

But the benefits are definitely multidirectional. There are often “full-circle moments” at our school, where one student has an idea; the class, grade, or whole community runs with it; and the life lessons that come with the idea and the experience then become universal. This is the magic that makes SMLS’s unique environment so effective…and so special.

Recently, a Senior School club, called Jack.org, launched a week-long “Positive Community Awareness Week” initiative at SMLS. All three schools championed this week-long programming, and the impact has been tangible.

When asked about the week, Grade 5 student, Ariel, wrote the following reflection. It is all in her own words, and beautifully captures the power and pride of our inspiring and interconnected school community.

“Around the end of November, when holiday spirit was just starting to kick in and the Junior School was preparing for their play, the SMLS community gathered for an important Chapel to announce and appreciate the beginning of Positive Community Awareness Week. After all of SMLS had settled down in the gym, the Chapel began. The Jack.org Council introduced themselves, PCAW (Positive Community Awareness Week), and this year’s theme: Kindness Through Compassion.They invited students from various grades in the Junior School to read a comforting book called “I Am Love” by Susan Verde that communicated a message–the very same one of the SMLS theme, Kindness Through Compassion. They ended the Chapel with a calming heart meditation exercise.

PCAW also inspired the JS5J House Representatives to organize an event of their own–Smiles for Miles Pencil Grams, because JS5J recognizes as House Reps, it’s our responsibility to be the role models, and more importantly, mentor the younger students and help them to grow up to be kind, compassionate women who can challenge and transform the world. The Junior School grades got together with their Learning Buddies and worked together to come up with positive messages to send to other students. Afterwards, the House Reps and Ms. Goldie added positive pencils to the cards to complete the message. Every student in the Junior School received an inspiring message and a pencil from someone else.

To wrap up PCAW, Junior School was treated to some delicious hot chocolate at snack time, which was organized by Jack.org. The Junior School community had a very fulfilling Positive Community Awareness Week, and have learned we can be kind not just on special occasions, but throughout the term, the year, and always.”

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