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Boys Connect Through Book Club Discussions



During this unprecedented time of social separation, we look for opportunities to enable students to come together with others beyond their pandemic-mandated cohorts, to foster community. 
 
This spring, Saint David’s partnered with George Jackson Academy and the Buckley School to host a virtual book club for the schools’ graduating classes. The book club selection, New Kid, is a graphic novel by Jerry Craft that relays the story of a seventh grader’s experiences upon enrolling in a new private school and the variety of challenges moving to a new school present.
 
The boys in all three schools began their discussions about this book from a similar shared experience: looking forward to graduation and the transition to a new secondary school. As the discussions unfolded in small-group breakout sessions (the boys met three times over two weeks), they delved deeper into their individual feelings and thoughts, and shared their various perspectives. Beginning with similarities and then delving deeper into differences helped build a sense of belonging among the boys. This is one of many ways that we cultivate and build empathy, connection, and respect for difference. 

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