Building Community at School: One Lunch at a Time

It is important for teachers to feel a sense of community at school in order to work together and communicate with each other effectively.  There is a tradition that I participate in each day that helps me to feel like I am a part of a larger school community:  lunch.

Ever since the staff of my school moved into a new building five years ago, some of my colleagues and I have gathered together in a classroom to eat lunch together.  There are several things, particularly this year, that make this a very special time each day.

1.  The lunch is conducted like an Open Circle lesson.  We start out as a group eating lunch and anyone is welcome to come and join us, any day, any time.

2.  The group consists of people who hold various jobs throughout the school including classroom teachers, special education teachers, specialists, and most recently, teachers from different grade levels.

3.  Although school subjects are discussed, lunch is often used as a time to get to know each other better, on a more personal level.  One teacher has commented that what makes the lunch so special is the kinds of conversations that occur.  This inspired her to invite a teacher from another grade level to join.

4.  Lunch is a time to relax and talk with other adults since the majority of the school day is spent working with kids.

5.  A group of teachers make lunch for each other on a rotating basis.  This way, each teacher is only responsible for making and bringing in lunch one day a week.  Teachers have commented that since lunch is their least favorite meal to prepare, they enjoy only having to make lunch once a week and being pleasantly surprised the other four days.  It has also been a great way to introduce and share recipes.

6.  During our lunch time we eat on real plates and use real utensils.  Teachers have commented that this makes them feel like real professionals eating lunch together, rather than eating out of lunchboxes.

Eating lunch with this group of colleagues has become a special tradition for me-- making me feel like a part of my school community on a daily basis.  I enjoy this time as a true break from the hecticness of the school day.  Getting to know my colleagues on a more personal level has also been a very enjoyable experience for me.


Questions to Ponder:

1.  Where/when do you feel a sense of community in your school?
2.  How can you create more opportunities for community building in your school?