Everything I Needed to Know About College I Learned from a Kindergartener

1/8/2024

Last week our kindergarten and first-grade students paid a special visit to the class of 2018 to share their best advice for our seniors as they graduate and move on to college. Offering advice ranging from practical, “learn how to do your own laundry,” to endearing, “only say kind things,” our young students wrote, decorated and read each letter aloud to our seniors. Though our oldest and youngest students are separated on two campuses, these moments reveal a shared sense of community and camaraderie that bonds Severn Admirals of any age.

The Writing Process

Our kindergarten and first-grade students used the writing process they’ve been practicing all year to complete the letters to our seniors. Both grades began with an activating lesson to jumpstart their thinking. Kindergarten began by reading “The Day the Crayons Quit” to explore the concept of advice and talked about what people need to do when they live on their own. First graders, having some background knowledge about the concept already, brainstormed ideas using a pair/share thinking routine and discussed the components of a friendly letter. Both grades then followed the writing process to complete their letters from rough draft to editing to the finished product complete with a hand-decorated envelope.

A piece of writing from a Severn School kindergarten student. — *“Dear Josie, I have some advice for you. Make a friend. Do your laundry. Work hard. Make your bed. Have fun with your roommate. Congratulations on graduating. From, Charles."*

Visiting Teel

It was a busy morning as busses of first grade and kindergarten students arrived on Teel Campus! Mr. Lagarde and our teachers helped to organize the group and guide our young students toward their senior pairs. From there, everyone gathered in the library to read the letters and share stories about going to school at Severn.

Severn Upper and Lower School students walk together. — *Ryan '29, Inde Lauer ‘18, LJ Owens ‘18*

Severn Upper and Lower schools students sit together and show their writing. — *Charlie Marculewicz ‘18, Charlie ‘29, and Josie Formica ‘18*

A Severn Upper School student helps a lower school student. — *Zoey '29 and Travis Kerridge '18*

Two Severn Upper School students talk with Lower School student. — *Carter '29 and Ryan Loprete '18*

Click here for more photos from the event!

A Community of Shared Milestones

For our seniors, this event is one of the last few milestones on their way toward graduation. For our kindergarteners and first-grade students, this marks the beginning of many more to come. It is our mission to know and value our students so that each member of our community feels understood and connected regardless of their grade level or age. Events like these help strengthen our community through building compassion for one another and pride in being a Severn Admiral.