Students in Kindergarten through 6th grade participate in monthly Tribes meetings. A Tribe consists of one Dunham Staff member who is the Tribe Leader and about 10-12 students ranging from K-6. Throughout their time at Dunham, students stay in the same tribe, saying goodbye to 6th graders in the spring and welcoming new Kinders in the fall. Students grow and learn with their Tribe, from being the new, unsure Kindergartener to the confident, capable 6th grade helper in the Tribe. Tribe Leaders (and sometimes 6th graders) choose activities for their Tribe based on monthly themes. In the past, Tribes have made beautiful bulletin board displays in the Community Room, worked on community service projects, played games together, practiced social skills with Toolbox tools, helped with campus beautification, and celebrated 6th graders nearing promotion. Walking on campus, it’s not uncommon to see a 5th and 1st grader in the same Tribe waving wildly to one another. In this way, Tribes become small “families” at Dunham, watching out for each other, building friendships across ages, and developing leadership skills as they grow and mature.
