Third-grade students at Scott Primary School gather each spring for the beloved program Guys with Ties. Facilitated by Maryann Swartz and led by teachers Steve Seidelson and Tim Rowe, Guys with Ties cultivates social and professional skills. Over the course of six sessions, students and mentors gather in the library for lunch to connect and learn new skills. The young people are encouraged to eat lunch with students they don’t know, practicing interpersonal skills and getting to know peers they haven’t yet met. Each session also focuses on a professional skill, like a proper handshake, good manners, or how to tie a tie.

Students apply their skills by donning their ties and greeting younger students and staff members. Seidelson shares that these interactions are a highlight, “my favorite part of the group is how the students get noticed by the other staff members or younger students. I really enjoy when they’re acknowledged for giving the appropriate greeting and setting a good example for the younger students in our building. This year we also had over 10 of the boys achieve tying a tie on their own, which I don’t think I could’ve done in third grade.”

“I LOVE this program as a third grade teacher,” shares Danielle Franc. “My boys are so proud and excited to be part of this group. This morning they all wore their ties and went up to first and kindergarten and greeted students and shook their hands.”