Knapp Forest Elementary spotlights community-focused initiatives to boost belonging

Knapp Forest Elementary Principal Lisa Rodell and school supervisor Ross Felder presented the school's community-building work to the Forest Hills Board of Education, citing long-standing traditions such as the hawk walk, art night and author visits that they say foster belonging. "Kids need to be heard, known, and seen to feel like they belong," Rodell said, tying that sense of connection to higher engagement and achievement.

Felder described two new initiatives designed to broaden daily interactions across grade levels. "One is called pride packs," he said, explaining these are teacher-led groups that keep the same multi-grade cohort together across years; "once a month we have a special event for them and they have a teacher that's assigned to their group." He also described a 15-minute early-bird recess that gives students a choice of playground, breakfast or a sensory room in the morning, and noted staff supervise the period by adjusting planning time. The presenters showed student projects and sensory-room examples and credited parent volunteers and a comfort dog, Bronx, for supporting the climate. The board praised the focus on belonging and asked how the district will evaluate the initiatives going forward.