From 3 to 91: Intergenerational and Interdependent

posted by Alisa Algava ‘08, leader of a small Hudson Valley progressive school

Everything, including all people, exists only through relationships with other people or things.  Nothing exists in isolation or absolute independence.  No person, or thing can arise of, for, or by its own accord.  Everything is interdependent.  ~Taro Gold

What a wonderful day we had on Friday.  It was our annual Grandparents and Grandfriends Day, which we combined with our annual Pancake Lunch for the very first time.  Thanks go out to the weather, to the kids and teachers, and to the hard work everyone did with the syrup, the setup, the pancakes, the activities, the singing and sign language, and the cleanup.  Each group in the school did its piece to contribute to the overall success of the day.  The “Downstairs” (pre-K and kindergarten) made the applesauce, the “Upstairs” (1st through 5th grades) made enough batter for 220 pancakes and decorated the Amphitheater, and the “Carriage House” (middle school and high school) set up the tables and cooked the pancakes.  Throughout the past two months, everyone in the school helped tap the maple trees, collect the sap, boil the sap, and make our very own SCHOOLMADE MAPLE SYRUP.

When we work together, we are able to accomplish so much more than any one of us could ever do alone.  This is the inherent value of living and learning in community with each other.  I learn from you, you learn from me.  We help each other to make things happen, and ultimately, to grow individually and collectively.

The other beautiful part of Friday’s event was seeing so many proud and loving grandfriends and grandchildren interacting and enjoying the day together.  One of my favorite memories of our small progressive school is an “intergenerational” one from a few years ago.  From a distance, I noticed two kids on the swings in the playground, which, in and of itself, is not an unusual sight.  But one of the kids was a big 8th grade boy and the other was a small 3-year-old girl.  And they were deep in conversation.  Connecting with each other, young and not-quite-as-young, is part of what makes this school so special.

Alisa Algava graduated from Bank Street’s Leadership for Educational Change program in December.  For the past 14 years, she has taught and learned in public, private, and charter schools in NY, NJ, and RI.  She has written a few postings in the past two months about her experiences leading and learning in a small progressive school.  Alisa loves learning.  She loves moderating The Alumni Blog. And she really loves her nephew.