By Macy Boyer

As I meandered my way through the perimeter of the classroom, a single photo in a small frame under the windowsill captured my attention. Beaming smiles radiated from the picture in the frame. I felt a small sense of triumph every time I discerned a face correctly, but there was also immediate disbelief in how much my classmates had grown. Finally, my eyes landed on my nine-year-old face. I stood next to my favorite teacher in my prized purple dress, with a smile that could only come from the joy of being included in something unexpected.

4th Grade teacher Emma Harrison began teaching at Collegiate in 2017. My grade, the class of 2026, was the first class to have her as a teacher. The year that Harrison started teaching, however, also happened to be the year of her wedding. I vividly remember the day in which Harrison extended blue papered wedding invitations to our class and the excited screams that followed. My classmates and I sat on a blanket in the front row during the wedding, wide-eyed as we cheered for our newly married teacher, and that day will always be ingrained in my memory. The photo in the frame was taken, if my memory is correct, merely minutes after Harrison and her partner, Will, were announced as husband and wife.

Harrisons 2017 4th Grade students take a picture with their newly married teacher. This photo can be found in her classroom. Photo credit: Nicki Metcalf.

As my time at Collegiate seems to be fading away at a remarkable speed, I was grateful to have the opportunity to revisit the classroom that cultivated my love of learning. As a student in Harrison’s 4th Grade class, I was met every day with an admirable sense of kindness. I never felt judged when I couldn’t figure out a problem, and I attribute that to Harrison’s unwavering patience. 

When I walked into Harrison’s current 4th Grade class on October 24, I could tell Harrison has managed to continue that same atmosphere. Students were working on a drawing for a Day of the Dead celebration as Harrison walked around and offered pieces of advice and encouragement. It was evident to me that many of the students were not fearful of taking risks or making mistakes because they were comfortable in their environment. 

Harrison explained that she teaches 4th Graders because she “loves this age.” Harrison brought up the book Yardsticks, a book about childhood development by longtime educator Chip Wood, which is read by many Lower School teachers. The book, Harrison said, “calls ten-year-olds the golden age of childhood.” She explained that she loves teaching ten-year-olds because they “are starting to have interests, and are learning how to work together—they aren’t self-centered.” 

As the students worked on their Day of the Dead drawings, I walked around the classroom and chatted with them about their 4th Grade experience. I first asked Ryder (‘33) what he liked about being in the 4th Grade. Ryder explained to me that he “likes being the leader of the Lower School.” “You get loads of opportunities to lead the school,” Ryder added, such as “speaking parts in plays.” I, too, remember the special sense of pride that came with playing Susan B. Anthony in our 4th Grade play. 

When asked if there were things particular to Harrison’s class that the students enjoyed, Mae (‘33), daughter of Dean of Faculty and former Middle School Head Tung Trinh, responded with “the VIP system.” Mae explained that there is a stack of students’ names on notecards which Harrison puts into a VIP pocket. “If [Harrison] pulls out your name, and you had a good day, you get to sit in the yoga ball chair,” Mae said. Additionally, Mae commented that she loves Harrison’s classroom rules. According to Mae, these rules are “be kind, be respectful, and do your best.” I nodded my head in agreement, remembering similar values from my 4th Grade year. 

Harrison teaches her students what it means to be respectful in the classroom. Photo credit: Julie Clay.

During my classroom visit, I was fortunate enough to witness the celebrated birthday bag tradition. At the beginning of the year, students bring in small and miscellaneous goodies to put into a white paper bag, which they subsequently decorate. They are randomized and assorted on the top shelf. On a student’s birthday, they are able to pick a birthday bag to take home with them. I was flooded with memories as I watched giddy students anxiously await for their fellow classmate to choose a bag. 

One thing I specifically remembered loving in Lower School was the variety of morning activities offered to 3rd and 4th Grade students before classes started. According to Cooper (‘33), the morning activities currently offered include morning art, morning STEM, morning math lab, morning recess, and morning library. Olivia (‘33) commented, “I like morning math lab… I usually play with this cube, and you have to put all these pieces together…I haven’t solved it yet,” she explained. Cooper said his favorite morning activity “is morning recess, because it’s the most fun.” I stifled a laugh as Olivia raised her eyebrow and responded, “interesting.” 

Finally, I wandered over to the back corner of the room, where I asked students about what they were looking forward to in Middle School. Shepherd (‘33), whose dad Shep Lewis teaches history in the Upper School, said he is “looking forward to seeing new teachers.” Elle (‘33) declared she was looking forward to “the lunch.” This response was met by a chorus of high pitched yeses and “I agree” from her peers. 

William (‘33) answered with a remark I had been anticipating: “ I am looking forward to walking around with no lines.” I remember feeling this exact same way—counting down the days until I could roam the halls by myself. Yet William added something I had never considered. He commented that he was excited to “get to use my fingerprints to unlock the doors.” Currently, only Lower School teachers use their fingers to unlock the building doors on the north side of campus. As an 11th Grader who grows extremely frustrated with the finger scanners daily, it was refreshing to hear an alternate point of view from someone younger. While I have always viewed the scanners as an annoyance, the hopeful 4th Graders view it as a privilege. 

After the high-pitched bell rang, Harrison walked her students to Green Carpool. I stayed behind and walked around the classroom, observing the nooks and crannies of the colorful room. I took note of the hand-written schedule on the whiteboard. It read: Movement. Morning Work. Morning Meeting. Spelling. Social Studies. Writing. STEM. Recess & Lunch. P.I.E. time. Math. Dismissal. I recognized all of the activities except for one: P.I.E. time. P.I.E., Harrison explained, stands for “Practice, Intervention, and Enrichment.” During this time, “Kids who need support get support. Kids who need a push get a push, and anyone in between gets practice.” No new material is taught during this time. 

Harrison’s 2024-2025 4th Grade Class at Pep Rally. Photo credit: Melanie Gregory.

I was hit with a wave of nostalgia as I discovered the books I once used to adore sitting in categorized boxes on the navy shelves. Goosebumps, I Survived, and Virginia Mysteries reminded me of sitting in the corner on the green blue carpet, flipping through the aged pages. I suddenly wanted to become a 4th Grader again, despite the exciting privileges and freedom that come with being in Upper School.

Harrison remarked, “I like being the final person to put the Lower School touch on the students before they leave.” After talking with Harrison’s articulate and intentional students, it is clear that Harrison is doing just that.