By having an open eating table instead of a fixed lunchtime and snacktime, it means that there are always children eating in our classroom. I’ve blogged before about the incredible social connections and academic possibilities around this table space, but recently, I’ve determined another reason that I love this eating table: Mr. Gomes.
Mr. Gomes is our fabulous head caretaker, and since September, all of us have gotten to know him really well. I think he knows the name of every child in the school. Maybe even every parent. He’s genuinely interested in connecting with kids, and our students absolutely adore him. You can hear their squeals of excitement every time that he comes by. (While my explanation of angles here is one that I would love to take back and try again, I have to share this post, as just listening to these kids shows how much they care about Mr. Gomes.)
With our open eating table, Mr. Gomes soon realized that lunch in our classroom is not just happening between the bells. Why not come and join us on his lunchtime?! And so, this past week, he’s started to take his lunch break in our room. He brings his lunch, pulls up a seat at the table, and talks with the kids. They talk about healthy and unhealthy foods, tell stories, and share about things that matter to them.
As I mentioned in the Instagram post below, our Board is focusing a lot on “caring adults.” There is no doubt that our students — along with others — would see Mr. Gomes as one of these adults.
- A quick run …
- A short lunch …
- A quiet conversation …
I never really thought about this before, but we really are talking minutes out of a day, but with a far bigger impact than that. How do we support our kids in making adult connections outside of our classrooms? What impact might this have on both kids and adults? Thanks Mr. Gomes for bringing a little extra joy into all of our lives!
Aviva