With the coming of March and some flowers poking through the soil, we have reinstituted an esteemed tradition at Primary Day that was set aside during COVID: the morning handshake. This past Monday morning I instructed each friend on the fundamentals of a proper handshake: using the right hand; a firm but not crushing grip; a bit of an up and down motion but nothing extreme; eye contact; some sort of greeting. We will keep practicing until it becomes second nature for our children to greet me and others in this way. (And be assured, when they get to their classrooms, they continue to follow the morning hand washing routine we instituted during COVID!)

The morning handshake is far more than a symbol. It’s a metaphor for the school’s partnership with parents. It is a sacred hand off from home to school: children get out of their parents’ cars and are simultaneously and seamlessly welcomed into the care of the school. The handshake marks the trust home and school share. It is a warm and genuine welcome; an intimate moment of human exchange; a time for me to assess mood, concern, joy, or anxiety; an opportunity for me to collect unsolicited drawings, jokes, and the kinds of little stories that make us human. It is also a precious window for me into what’s front of mind for our young children.

Yes, the morning handshake teaches children to greet other people properly, with respect, a look into the eyes, a kind and appropriate greeting. Yes, it is a further way our children develop poise, self-confidence, and disciplined social skills. However, the handshake also conveys these critical messages: This is your school. You are known here. You are seen here. You are valued here. You are loved here. You are leaving home. Welcome to school.