The Elementary Learning Center (ELC) at The Island School was buzzing with energy last Monday as we welcomed our students back for their first week of school! 

Students were beaming with excitement as they reconnected with familiar faces, met new friends, and received warm welcomes from their teachers: Braden, Holly, Dan, and Jelly, as well as Britta, who is joining the ELC as a student teacher this semester. 

The first task of the day was personalizing name tags. Some of the  students opted for intricate patterns, while others added doodles of surfers and waves, adding their unique personalities into the classroom from day one. 

Monday: Setting the Stage 

After settling into their classroom spaces, students lined up with anticipation and hurried over to the Dining Hall for a fan-favorite first day breakfast: eggs and grits. The Dining Hall came alive with energy as laughter and chatter filled the tables. Students shared stories about their summer adventures and formed new friendships with other staff and students on campus. 

The rest of the day was centered around easing the students back into a school routine. They enjoyed a fun read-aloud, back-to-school bingo, and get-to-know-you games to set the tone for a smooth school year. The first day’s grand finale was a refreshing water relay—the perfect way to wrap up their first day at the ELC! 

Tuesday: Artistic Expression and Indoor Activities 

Creativity filled the air on Tuesday. Channeling their inner artists, students used pencils and pastels to create stunning self portraits. Attention to detail was everything. The right eye color, hairstyle and even face shape was key. The goal was to make these portraits so accurate that parents could spot their child immediately at Tuesday’s open house. 

A stormy afternoon meant pivoting to some indoor activities. The ELC used this time as an opportunity for community building games to foster collaboration and communication for the rest of the school year, essential skills for our young leaders to develop.

Wednesday: Campus Tour and Foundation Building 

As the rain finally let up, students headed outside for a scavenger hunt! This wasn’t any ordinary scavenger hunt…It was a way for students to get to know The Island School’s campus! Divided into two groups, these young explorers received sheets with questions like “where do the chickens and pigs live?” and “where do you go when you’re sick?” Their mission took them everywhere from the Boathouse to the Dining Hall! It was the perfect blend of a campus tour and pure fun.

After lunch, students worked on fundamental academic skills. The older children completed math assessments while the younger students worked on their morning math routines, including weather and numbers of the day. The afternoon also featured important discussions about good and poor choices in school. With the help of a read aloud to “David Goes to School,” students sorted behaviors into “should do” and “should not do” during school, setting the foundation for productive classroom behavior throughout the year.

Thursday: Show and Tell and Creative Plays 

Thursday brought back a timeless first-week tradition: show and tell. Each student brought a few items into school that revealed a little bit more about them. They brought in everything from sleeping masks to pencils—giving classmates a glimpse into their personal interests. 

After the first round of show and tell was over, students were divided into 3 groups. One group played “Two Truths and a Lie,” continuing the theme of getting to know their classmates a bit better while the other worked on weather or enjoyed read-aloud time.  

When rain put a wrench in outdoor plans yet again, but the ELC was able to make the most of it. They channeled their inner playwright, getting into groups and each writing an original play that they can perform for the class. These plays challenged students to really use their imagination as they were given two characters, a setting, a problem, and an item. Students were tasked with brainstorming a plot using all of these elements and had to weave them all together into an entertaining play to share with their peers.  

Friday: FUN DAY! 

Friday morning started with a special guest reader Tara Affolter, Senior Director of Educational Programs. She read aloud the book “Invisible Boy” to encourage kind and inclusive behavior from our ELC students. 

After listening quietly on their mats and giving Mrs. Affolter their full attention, the students were ready to let out some morning energy with a new ELC tradition: Just Dance Fridays! As music played, the room was filled with students’ laughter, singing, and awesome dance moves. 

The morning continued with finishing up show and tell presentations before the older students headed into a chain reaction game. Each student received slips of paper with  specific actions to be performed in a sequence, demonstrating the importance of looking at and listening to their classmates at school. 

To close out the week, students set out on another exploration scavenger hunt—this time alongside all of The Island School’s Semester and Deep Creek Middle School (DCMS) students. Groups were intentionally mixed with students from all three programs to encourage collaboration and community building beyond the ELC. We couldn’t think of a better way to wrap up an incredible first week back at school. 

First week: complete! With new friendships formed, creativity unlocked, and campus conquered, our ELC students are ready for the rest of the wonderful year. We cannot wait to watch them learn, grow, and explore!