Building Community

To experience a Kuyam is to experience the Seven Arrows ethos and one of our most celebrated signature pieces. Derived from the ancient Chumash word meaning “a place to rest or come together,” the weekly Kuyam is an all-school assembly where students, parents, faculty and staff members, and guests come together as a community to celebrate the creativity and strengths of our students.

Every Friday morning from 8:15 to 9:00, the whole Seven Arrows community comes together for this ritual in which all members aim to be “fully present” for the enjoyment of music, poetry, class performances, individual presentations, and a general celebration of the children and life at school. Our music teachers lead the volunteer Parent Band which performs a variety of songs including the school anthem and students give poetry readings, perform character sketches, and present Ethical Leadership projects, among other curriculum-based renditions.

Though no two Kuyams are ever alike, the goal is always the same: to provide our students with opportunities for leadership, public speaking, performance,  and to celebrate the community experience at Seven Arrows. Past participants and special guests at Kuyams have included Olympic medalists, Nobel Prize-winning scientists, children’s book authors, famous musicians, poets, and other renowned and inspiring guests.

One of the sweetest Seven Arrows traditions is our Kindergarten and Sixth Grade Buddy Program. These pairings make our new Kindergarteners feel more at ease at school while our Sixth graders are able to share their knowledge of life at Seven Arrows. One of the most fun things these buddies get to do is sit together each week at our weekly all-school assembly, called Kuyam. Derived from the ancient Chumash word meaning “a place to rest or come together,” Kuyam is where students, parents, faculty and staff come together as a community to celebrate the creativity and strengths of our students.

In addition to Kuyam, our buddy pairs meet regularly for lunch. They participated in our annual Walk-A-Thon together, attended our Halloween Festival together, have done art projects together, and even performed in our El Día de los Muertos Festival together. 

While this program gives our Sixth graders a chance to be leaders and gain experience supporting a younger child, it is most impactful to our Kindergarten students, who feel safe and included as they begin this new chapter of their educational journey.

At Seven Arrows, we value partnering with parents in every way. We constantly look to them for important feedback and support. In fact, we believe this partnership is what makes our community so special. We share, we respond, and we work together to grow our dynamic and inclusive learning community.

Parent Volunteers

Seven Arrows could not provide the wonderfully rich educational experience that it does without the participation and dedication of our parent volunteers. Our extraordinary families bring enormous creativity to the school, inspiring and enriching the lives and experiences of everyone. Parents are invited to help our school by volunteering their time, effort, and creativity in the classroom or through any of our committees. Our Parent Association coordinates our volunteer program and meets throughout the school year to discuss the events that support life and learning at Seven Arrows. Volunteering is a wonderful way to connect your passion to our mission!

Volunteer Opportunities Include: 

• Edible Garden 

• Parent Dances at Festivals

• Book Club

• Weekly Art Workshop

• Mindfulness 

• The Sparrows – Our Parent Band

• Walk-A-Thon

• Masquerade 

• Halloween 

• Dia de los Muertos 

Parent Education

Seven Arrows frequently invites speakers of note to share topics of interest for our parents. Experts have included psychologists, nutritionists, education experts, and child development specialists who are invited to speak to our parent body on their areas of expertise. This is a service provided to parents by the school, and all are encouraged to attend these highly informative events. Topics are often chosen based on the needs and interests of our parent body; parents’ feedback and suggestions are always welcomed.

Past topics have included:

• CyberSafety for your Kids with Lori Getz

• Philosophy of Homework at Seven Arrows with Dr. Lee Hausner

• Engaging and Connecting with Kids through a Strength Based Approach with Susan Stiffelman, MFT

• Too Sexy, Too Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood & What to Do with Dr. Karen Fried, Psy.D.

• Engaging and Connecting with Kids through a Strength Based Approach with Carolyn McWilliams

• Managing Perfectionism with Betsy Brown Braun

• Supporting a Confident, Calm & Focused Child with Dr. Michael Gervais

• Weekly Parent Mindfulness with Brian Shiers