Third Grade Honors Community and Traditions on Valentine's Day

Each year, Mrs. Gekas’s third grade students participate in a Valentine’s Day celebration that honors traditions and neighbors in our surrounding community. Visits to friends in the community followed by a traditional tea exemplify values like respect and kindness that we call “The Barnesville Way.”
As a math homework assignment, students were asked to bake muffins at home. In class, they decorated gift bags and packed up the muffins into care packages. On Valentine’s Day, the students took a trip around the Barnesville area, delivering the packages to the local firehouse, retired substitute teachers, former Board members, and other people with connections to The Barnesville School like the Langstaffs and Kingsburys whose farms are part of our outdoor and environmental education program. One of their favorite stops was the home of Mrs. Gowan whose son was a member of the first class at The Barnesville School 50 years ago.

After the muffin delivery, third graders sat down for a traditional tea. Dressed in fine attire, they ate sweet treats and drank tea from a special tea cup they brought from home. They practiced their manners and spent time chatting with each other about their day.
Additional photos are on Facebook.

Barnesville School of Arts & Sciences is an independent private school in Montgomery County, Maryland offering innovative preschool through 8th grade programs. Cross-curricular teaching encourages students to explore how subjects relate to one another, helping them to make connections that spark inquiry and deepen understanding. Small classes enable skilled teachers to engage each child in an academically challenging environment.