On October 15th, Longfellow hosted the first ever Garden Gathering, A Family Connection Workshop, which was facilitated by NAMI San Diego (led by a first-grade parent, Kate Gowan) in collaboration with the Longfellow Garden Committee and the ABC Committee. A heartfelt thank you to Principal Alluin for joining us and supporting this special event!

Students and families participated in several engaging activities designed to strengthen connection and belonging. Together, we created Family Connection Jars filled with prompts and questions to inspire daily moments of communication and reflection at home. Families then worked together to create symbols and reflections representing what it feels like to be connected and supported within the Longfellow community.

Many students shared thoughtful insights about how being human means being connected, and that just as Longfellow is important to all of us, we are each important to Longfellow. The group also came together to weave a physical web of connection, visually representing the ways we support one another and how those connections nurture positive mental health.

A special shot out to a praying mantis that appeared in the garden during our garden walk, it was an unexpected yet fitting reminder of mindfulness, patience, and the natural connections that surround us. It's quiet presence invited everyone to pause and appreciate the beauty of being together in our shared garden space.

We look forward to future Garden Gatherings that continue to cultivate belonging, connection, and growth within our amazing Longfellow community.