On the occasion of Grandparents’ Day, we had the pleasure of welcoming our “special grandparents” to school. The day began with a shared snack and was then enriched by a small creative activity. The children, together with the grandparents, placed a small ball into a box full of colored tempera paint. Rolling from side to side, the ball traced a web of vibrant colors—a visual symbol of the network we want to build together, uniting generations and telling stories through the shades and movements of color.
But our “Weavers of Bonds” project does not stop at the school gates.
After hosting the grandparents among us, it is now time for our students to go out, explore, and take their network outside our walls. The first initiative was a visit to the local RSA (Nursing Home), where we had the opportunity to spend a special day together with the elderly. We sang together, exchanged smiles and stories, and shared another snack.
The residents gave us small handmade crochet hearts, a precious symbol of their affection and care. In return, we brought a large poster with the children’s handprints, representing the path taken to reach them, as a visual symbol of our journey toward connecting with the community.
This visit was a moment of great emotion: an encounter between young and old that allowed us to create authentic bonds, introduce ourselves, and let ourselves be known. We brought with us the spirit of our project for the year, which aims to build bonds of friendship, respect, and collaboration both among children, teachers, and families within the school, and with all the people who are part of our local area.
This year, the theme of our school is, indeed, “Be the change… Weavers of Bonds”, a project that aims to build meaningful connections, both within our walls and with the surrounding territory.
The theme of the year represents much more than a slogan: it is a concrete commitment to promoting meaningful connections both inside and outside the school, with the goal of giving students the awareness that human bonds are the true foundation of a healthy and inclusive community. Through projects, meetings, and activities in the local area, we want to guide the students on a path of growth where the relationship with others becomes an opportunity for learning and discovery. Weaving bonds therefore means working together, valuing differences, respecting uniqueness, and discovering that, in an increasingly fragmented world, it is only through cooperation and mutual understanding that we can build a more solid and welcoming future for everyone.
The “Weavers of Bonds” project has just begun and invites us to continue exploring the world outside the school. We want to get to know, listen to, and learn from the people around us, and weave a network with them that makes our community stronger and more united. We are convinced that this experience of connection with the local area will bring our children and young people awareness, empathy, and a sense of belonging that will stay with them for a lifetime.
