Students learned about water in the region, including rivers, the Long Island Sound, and the Atlantic Ocean, and how people use water in the Stamford area. They surveyed their families on how they use water at home and interviewed the kitchen staff and other faculty members on how they use water at King. The next step in the unit was their field trip to the Stamford Water Treatment Facility earlier this week.

In celebration of King's inclusive and diverse global community, flags have been installed in all three divisions that represent the countries native to King's students, parents, faculty, and staff. Following a community survey conducted in the fall, the School identified 65 different countries represented in the King family and the flags of origin were installed, over winter break, in the Upper School lobby, as well as the Middle and Lower Schools.

King students have many different opportunities to pursue their passions as they grow as learners and people. The Class of 2019 has achieved success in the classroom, on the athletic fields, on the stage, and now they are preparing to pursue lives of ongoing inquiry in college. Congratulations to the 39 seniors who have been accepted and have already committed to attend their first choice college or university.

The King Cares program continues to participate in an array of wonderful service work throughout the greater community. During the month of December, several Upper School advisories collaborated to support King's partner organizations. For instance, students collected items for Pacific House, a men's shelter in Stamford, others conducted a children's coat drive to support a shelter in Danbury. Another group prepared a meal with Flik to serve at Inspirica, an organization working to break the cycle of homelessness.

How does King School define a kind and inclusive community? Every day our staffulty, students, and parents make a choice to intentionally show consideration and compassion for others. King is committed to our Virtues of integrity, kindness, perseverance, and respect. One important way we show our commitment to cultivating a kind, inclusive community is by supporting staffulty at the NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC) and students at the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC).

Continuing our tradition of participation in these vital conferences, a group of five Upper School students and six staffulty from multiple divisions and disciplines traveled together to Nashville, Tennessee earlier this month for a unique and memorable experience.

Grade 5 students had been learning about the New England and Middle Colonies and were ready to enjoy an immersive experience at Philipsburg Manor in late November. This field trip provided students with a hands-on understanding of all they had studied in class and a new appreciation for the history of our country.

Anaiya Shah placed three LEGO female figurines on the desk in front of her and began to tell their story. In the end, it was really her own story that she was telling.

In October, Grade 2 students and their parents celebrated the "publication" of their small moment stories, inspired by the work of authors Jack Ezra Keats and Nina Laden, with an Author's Toast and Book Signing. Parents had a chance to read their child's story as well as the work of other students.

Earlier this week, the PA King Inclusion and Diversity Committee (KInD) sponsored a breakfast meeting with Head of School Karen Eshoo, who offered insight about the definitions of diversity, inclusion, and equity.

Estimation was central to the lesson - making estimates and then determining the accuracy of their estimations. Students made guesses on whether the pumpkin was buoyant or would sink; what its weight would be; and how many grooves it had going around its body. This is a perfect example of hands-on joyful learning in our Lower School classrooms.