Every school year, principals find ways to be a friendly face to the students in their school, and what better way than over a fun lunch! So, each month during lunch this school year, Horizon Elementary Principal Sandra Murray sits down with students from different classrooms for conversation and connection during “Lunch with the Principal.”
It’s a new tradition for Horizon Elementary, that Principal Murray and Assistant Principal Cynthia Garcia started this school year. Not just any lunch, the two of them make it an event to remember for their students. They dedicate time to set up tables, put out name cards, and create a space meant for fun, stories, and creating community. During their time together, Principal Murray plays emcee, asking students about what’s going on in their classrooms, how they’re feeling about the school year, and building connections.
The lunches give students a chance to meet classmates they might not see every day and become a closer school community. At the September 29 lunch with the students, Principal Murray hear from the students what they thought about changes this school year. The students were excited to share their ideas and talk about their experiences. Their answers gave her valuable insight into their experiences. It allowed the students time to discuss and reflect, and to be seen and heard by staff.
At one of the first lunches of the year, the conversation turned to a favorite topic: food! Students talked about family meals, favorite dishes, and foods they like to help make at home. Soon, the table was full of stories about recipes, snacks, and family traditions.
Students Victor, Jagger, and Tyson said they enjoyed learning more about their classmates. By sharing stories about their hobbies, families, and favorite foods, they discovered things they had in common and learned new things about each other.
As schools recognize National Principals Month, this tradition is a great example of how school leaders create meaningful opportunities to connect with students. It’s Principal Sandra’s goal at the end of the year to have lunch with every Horizon student. She has seen how impactful the time is for the students, saying, “talking with each other really opened up the opportunity to help build more relationships with those kids in their own grade level with kids they don't know. And I think the more we learn about each other, the more appreciation we have for each other. I think that's really important at our school where we are striving to foster a greater sense of belonging for each student.”
Across the 44 programs in Kent School District (KSD), our principals lead their staff and students in the KSD mission to successfully prepare all students for their futures. They make opportunities like this possible, creating spaces for student connection and student voice in unique ways for their school community. Their jobs are essential to keeping schools on track and running smoothly, providing direction and guidance to teachers, and being a familiar face to students and parents. During National Principals Month, KSD recognizes and thanks principals like Sandra Murray for helping students feel seen, heard, supported, and connected every day.
These efforts support our district's mission of successfully preparing all students for their futures and supports the strategic goals of preparing students to be global citizens, expanding partnerships with students, families, and the community, and building equitable systems and school environments across the district.