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At Mason Crest Elementary School in Annandale, students are taking the lead in helping new classmates feel welcome from their first day.

The school experiences unusually frequent enrollment changes. During the 2023-24 school year, its student mobility rate—the share of students moving into or out of a school during the year—reached 21.7%, compared with the Fairfax County Public Schools average of 13.25%.

Fifth-grade teacher Monica Buckhorn and multilingual learner teachers Ellyn Pearson and Kimberley Mathews responded by creating the Tiger Team, a student-led welcome committee. They hoped the group would strengthen the school community, help newcomers adjust and potentially improve attendance.

Twenty-six students applied during the team’s first year. Applicants considered qualities such as kindness and communication, and the resulting group included students from a wide range of academic, racial and economic backgrounds.

Pearson, who also serves as Mason Crest’s equity lead, said the students embraced one another while building pride in their school.

The team established several goals: giving every new student a tour, creating a mailbox where classmates could leave notes, representing Mason Crest at events and serving as familiar faces for newcomers who needed help during the day.

The effort also supports the school system’s strategic goal of ensuring students feel safe, supported, included and empowered.

In November, fifth-graders Sawyer Clark and Anaya Waseem guided first-grader Abdias Gomez through the school. Anaya told Abdias that her classroom was next to his and offered to help whenever he needed it.

Sawyer made sure they walked beside Abdias and kept pace with him. He said he joined the Tiger Team because he understood how uncomfortable it could feel to enter a room without knowing anyone or what they were doing.

During the tour, Sawyer and Anaya introduced Abdias to the library, showed him where to find Spanish-language books and explained that he could visit the counselor when he wanted help expressing his feelings.

The gym became Abdias’ favorite stop. Flags from numerous countries hang there, and he was excited to spot the flag of Guatemala, where he was born.

Abdias said he enjoyed the tour and was also pleased to discover his favorite “Dog Man” books in the library—and to learn where he could find them again.

Buckhorn said those familiar sights and personal connections can help new students develop a sense of belonging. The Tiger Team members also gain skills they can carry with them when they enter middle school.

Students brainstormed ways to make newcomers comfortable, practiced introductions and conversations, and designed surveys to measure whether their efforts were working.

Mathews said last year’s survey results suggested the program was making a difference. No participating newcomer reported being unable to make a friend or identify a trusted adult in the building.

For Mason Crest, the mission is simple: make school more enjoyable and ensure that every child feels like they belong.