New school creates community connections

The new Sisters Elementary School - constructed close to Sisters middle and high schools - is helping to build connections between students.

Earlier this month Sisters High School IEE (Interdisciplinary Environmental Expedition) students worked with SES kindergarten and firtst graders on plant identification. After the teachers of these classes realized that they were covering similar content, they decided to collaborate. Junior age students at SHS led hands-on activities with the younger students, focusing on analyzing physical parts of native plants.

Photo by Olivia Nieto

Having all three Sisters schools in close proximity enables high school students to work with elementary school kids - benefitting both.

"Collaboration between high school and elementary school students is super important because it helps develop crucial life skills like communication, leadership, and problem solving skills," said SES science teacher Jocelyn Blevins. "My favorite part is students get to learn about and solve real world problems and have real world applications to scenarios where there are people of different ages and expertise who work together to solve problems."

The classwork lasted two days, with juniors reserving one hour for kindergarteners and one hour for first graders each day. Every junior teamed up with a peer to lead a group of two to four SES students, taking them outside and showing them the variety of vegetation surrounding them.

"It was so fun! I wish we could do this every day!" said one eager first grader.

"I don't really remember what I learned but it was fun," said another kindergartener.

"I liked when my high schooler did a scavenger hunt with us, it made learning really fun," said one elementary student.

Although learning is a part of the goal, relationship-building between generations was another main objective. As part of creating a welcoming school community, increasing understanding and connections between different ages is valuable.

Other efforts made through SHS, including freshman biology classes teaching second graders about endangered species, and the garden club working with kindergarteners about the evolution of insect life cycles, have aided this mission. 

As the year continues, both teachers and students of all ages hope these partnerships will continue, perhaps becoming an annual event.