Earlier in January, Lori's first grade welcomed a new class pet, a beta fish. Students immediately were excited to name their new friend. Teachers Lori and Julia took this opportunity to teach and practice Quaker decision making skills with their class.

Over the course of several days, Lori and Julia set expectations and explained important concepts. Students submitted names (popular runners up included Midnight, Tom, and Commander Wolf), then took turns sharing with the group what they liked about their choice and why it was a good fit for the fish, their class, and the School. The students agreed that they wanted to choose a name that matched the fish. They also tried to find options that would be a good fit for Greene Street Friends School and its values.

After actively and respectfully listening to each other, the group came to a consensus over the name Flowy. 

Lori and Julia were both incredibly impressed by how seriously their students took this process. Said Julia "They were really able to put aside their strong feelings to go with the group process."

"We all thought hard and paid attention. It took a lot of thinking and working together," added first grade student Sylvia. She and her classmates are pleased with the outcome. "I really like the way his tail flows."