At the start of this term, classroom guides, specialty guides, and our counselor revisited grace-and-courtesy lessons — the Montessori foundation that teaches students how to live and work alongside one another with respect and care. Students also reviewed expectations around technology use, grounding classroom devices not as entertainment, but as tools that carry responsibility. The message is consistent: learning flourishes in a community where inclusion, kindness, and accountability are practiced daily.

 

This month, that same intentionality extends into conversations about social media and digital citizenship. Through age-appropriate scenarios, students will explore online permanence, peer pressure, empathy, and the difference between intent and impact. Rather than reacting to problems after they surface, the work is preventative — equipping students with language, awareness, and decision-making tools before they need them. In a world where digital spaces are part of growing up, Upper Elementary students are learning not only how to navigate technology, but how to do so with character.

 

Families who would like to learn more about how Upper Elementary approaches social and digital development are always welcome to connect with their child’s guide or Nadya Budhwani, Upper Elementary Division Director at Nadya.Budhwani@AlcuinSchool.org