Briargate students and staff showcase peer leadership and inclusive-design projects at Cary CCSD 26 meeting

At the Jan. 26 Cary CCSD 26 board meeting, Briargate staff and students presented the school's BlueCrew peer-leadership program and several student projects to the board.

BlueCrew pairs fifth-grade leaders with younger students for social-emotional and behavioral support. Presenters said nearly every fifth grader applied to be a leader; staff reported they will expand pairings to about 10 additional students this week. "Being a leader on BlueCrew means being kind, showing up, and helping others feeling included and special," student Claire Rowan said, describing how she meets her buddy at the door each day to walk her to class to reduce isolation and improve attendance.

A fourth-grade inquiry project, inspired by the novel Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper, produced student designs for an all-inclusive playground. The fourth graders described site features such as a treehouse with a ramp, ramps and wheelchair-accessible swings, and a story-time garden; they said a recent field trip to an inclusive playground in McHenry informed their designs.

Mr. Nas, who introduced the presentation, also described other building initiatives: book-buddy pairings that pair older and younger students for shared projects and conversations, STEM work that included 3D renderings and weather-report green-screen projects, and staff "BG Dens" (structured staff groups with icebreakers) intended to build adult community and model social-emotional practices for students.

Board members praised the presentations. Several members thanked staff and students for turning curriculum into meaningful experiences and noted the programs support inclusion and student leadership. The board did not take formal action on the presentations; the meeting then proceeded to other agenda items.