"Community" in Lower School
	Building a strong community is a priority in our Lower School.   We want every child to feel a sense of belonging, learn empathy, and take ownership and pride in being a part of a learning community. Our daily family-style lunch brings Kindergarteners through Third Graders together for a meal eaten family-style.   Here, assigned tables with a mixed-age group and a teacher, sit together to share food, learn manners and engage in conversation.   This is a time when teachers and children of all ages get to know one another, share stories, and play a role in everything from setting and clearing the table to serving the food and composting the waste.   The family-style lunch takes away the stress that can come with choosing friends at lunchtime, and everyone looks forward to talking with—and taking care of—students from other grades.

	Morning and afternoon recesses are an important part of community life.  In almost every kind of weather, our students venture out to our fields for unstructured play and plenty of physical activity.  In addition to the benefits of physical activity for learning, we believe this is a time for students to use their imaginations to make up games, use their negotiating skills to create rules, and use social skills to learn the art of compromise, compassion, trust, and friendship.  All this happens under the watchful eyes of teachers (not playground monitors) who take an interest in observing their students both inside and outside of the classroom.

	Assemblies are at the heart of our Lower School.  Twice each week, the entire Lower School gathers to hear announcements, celebrate student accomplishments, and enjoy performances by peers and guests.  In any given assembly, students may perform on a musical instrument, read a piece of writing, recite a poem, or make an announcement about a new baby brother or sister.   In addition to teaching public speaking, confidence about performance, and good listening, assemblies help students see themselves as a valued and connected members of the community.  Our assemblies have also been hosts to storytellers, puppeteers, dancers, accomplished musicians, and internationally acclaimed experts in their fields.

	Peace Teams are a cherished and longstanding tradition at GFA.  Peace Teams meet once a month in cross-age (K - 5) groups to play cooperative games, learn songs, read books, and do community outreach.  Peace Teams help us build a school culture that supports each child's sense of belonging and ability to reach out and contribute to a broader community.  In addition to providing an opportunity for our Fifth Graders to become leaders and caretakers of our younger students, Peace Team activities help children of all ages develop valuable connections throughout their Lower School years--and beyond.  Peace Teams culminate in our annual, year-end, Peace Games, during which each team represents a country in a full day of cooperative field games. click here for a Photo Gallery of Peace Teams