On May 23, the Grade 1 class at St. Michaels University School made their much-anticipated annual visit to the Senior School. While the Junior School campus is only a short drive away, this tradition is a thoughtfully planned opportunity to build bridges between the youngest and oldest students. The visit encourages connection and helps Grade 1 students begin to envision themselves as future Senior Schoolers.
The day began in the Snowden Library, where Teacher Librarian Ms. Davel hosted the class for story time. Gathered on the carpet, the students enjoyed a reading of Dewey: There’s a Cat in the Library, which sparked plenty of laughter and curious questions.
Next, the students wound their way through Brown Hall en route to the Chapel, where they spent time with Mr. Anderson. He spoke to them about the importance of community—a central theme in many Senior School Chapel gatherings. Behind him, the students recognized one of the school’s four spindle whorls on display, a symbol they also see every day in the Junior School lobby.
After a quick snack on the grass outside, the students headed to one of the most exciting stops of the day: the Head of School’s office. Mr. Turner warmly welcomed each student as they filed in and settled on the carpet in front of his desk. Used to seeing him as their Thursday crossing guard or at Monday Community Time, it was a unique chance to visit his workspace and ask questions—lots of them.
They were curious:
“How does your job help the community?”
“What tools do you need to do your job?”
“How did you get all the books in the library?”
“Do you stay here for the whole day?”
And even a math challenge: “How many times have you been to the Junior School?”
Perhaps the most telling question came at the end: “How do you graduate from SMUS? Is it just a big, long assembly?” The students were clearly beginning to imagine their future at the school. Mr. Turner answered thoughtfully, sharing what his role entails, the projects he is proud of, and the joy of seeing students graduate.
After a long sit, the students were treated to a small snack from Ms. Green, Assistant to the Head of School, before heading to the gym for a special session with Mr. Doland and a Grade 10 PE class. The Grade 10 students had designed a physical education adventure course, complete with pool noodles, cones, and “gold coins,” turning the gym into a real-life video game. The Grade 1s enthusiastically leapt, ducked, and dashed their way through the obstacles, collecting coins as they went.
With some energy burned, the students offered big thanks to their Grade 10 buddies and were rewarded with chocolate gold coins before heading off to a mindfulness session with the Personal Counselling team. Radar, the school’s accredited facility dog, joined them—delighted, no doubt, to see visitors more his height.
The visit concluded with a delicious Senior School dining experience in Graves Hall at the Sun Centre. On the menu: tortellini and garlic bread, much to everyone’s delight, and a sweet surprise of rice crispy treats courtesy of the Sage Dining team.
It was a full morning of learning, exploring, and building community—a memorable step in the journey of every SMUS student.
