A Multi-Division Approach to Civic Engagement

The air buzzed with anticipation in Molly Cleere’s fourth-grade classroom, where the young Torreys eagerly awaited the arrival of their guests—three Upper School students. Isabel Finch ’28, Ariela Garma-Nieto ’26, and Anna Holland ’25 visited on a crisp October day to help the Lower Schoolers understand the election process through the power of play.

In the Election Night game, teams led by the older students battled for critical electoral votes in a race for the presidency while learning the mechanics of the Electoral College. The game provided opportunities to practice addition and multiplication, U.S. geography, strategic thinking, turn-taking, and group listening skills.

Anna fondly remembers her own time in Lower School. “Even though I was a quiet kid and may not have shown my enthusiasm, I had the most fun when older students visited my class. I wanted to make a similar impact on their lives, just as I experienced.”  

Ms. Cleere feels fortunate to have the Upper School students on the same campus. She shares, “They were excellent leaders who modeled a love for learning, patience, and grace. They shared potential strategies, gave gentle reminders, used encouraging words, and were committed to keeping the game focused on the learning process. Their willingness to laugh and have fun made the fourth graders feel seen and valued.”

In preparation for the Middle School’s Voting Day on Oct. 15, eighth graders helped fifth graders register to vote. Creating their voter ID cards was the perfect opportunity for fifth graders to practice their signatures and draw self-portraits. Grade 8 students researched issues that American voters faced this election season. Some topics were modeled after California Propositions—like rent control or raising the minimum wage—while others reflected national issues, including gun control, GMOs, and TikTok bans.

On Voting Day, the eighth graders presented the pros and cons of each issue from booths set up in the Community Hall courtyard. Grades 5–7 students walked through the booths, stopping to learn about each topic before voicing their opinions on the ballot inside Community Hall. Each issue had a proposition-style “yes” or “no” question, mirroring California’s initiative and measure process. The young constituents left the polls with “I Voted” stickers, giving them a real-life experience of democracy in action.

Showcasing even more crossover between the divisions and grades, students in the Honors Government class acted as lobbyists by challenging the eighth graders during the open session in the courtyard. Their probing questions pushed the eighth graders to discuss their issues with nuance.

Another group of junior and senior volunteers visited seventh-grade advisories, offering deeper explanations of the issues. They discussed the process of voting on propositions and shared trusted media sources for further research, emphasizing the importance of media literacy. They received such positive feedback that they were inspired to teach their peers in all Upper School advisories.

“It’s essential that we teach students about how the government and our democracy work,” explains Director of the Center for Excellence in Citizenship Jonathan Shulman. “They can’t make the most effective use of their educated vote if they don’t understand why it’s important to be educated about a candidate or an issue. It takes work to do your research and think critically. Voting is hard. Taking action is hard. But that’s what citizenship is about. The obstacles that stand between a lack of reliable information and good citizenship are not insurmountable.”

The election activities highlighted the unique benefits of having Lower, Middle, and Upper School students on one campus. Younger students learned directly from older students who they look up to as role models, while older students had the chance to apply their leadership skills in meaningful ways. By collaborating across divisions and grades, LJCDS educators empowered Grades 4–12 students to engage with democracy and see firsthand that understanding how government works is both accessible and impactful.