The Youngest Poly Students Experience the Power of Voting in Mock Election

Election years are times of great change. To help students learn about this important democratic practice and prepare them for a potentially tumultuous election season, the Lower School created a 2024 Presidential Election committee, crafting a plan to ensure students had the necessary tools to understand this important moment in our history.

Starting in October, the Presidential Election plan for Lower School includes distinct programs leading up to, during, and after the election. Students were provided developmentally appropriate lessons, resources that educate on important political concepts, and identified ongoing open spaces where students can process and discuss their feelings and experiences.

(Mock) Election Day Arrives

On Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, students at the Lower School were actively engaged in an election of their own, perfect for younger audiences. The Hulbert Room was transformed into an official Poly polling station colorfully decorated with red-white-and-blue banners, streamers, privacy screens with stars on them, and signs that displayed important messages like, “vote,” and “every vote is powerful.” 

Students’ excitement and anticipation filled the room. Which dessert treat would win the election? Would it be the tasty M&M cookie? Would the classic Rice Krispie Treat be victorious? Campaign signs advocating each choice were displayed around the room to entice voters. Students enthusiastically cast their votes into the ballot box and waited expectantly for the final results. With this simple exercise, students experienced for the first time the power of voting. This mock election demonstrated to each of our youngest Poly students the significance of freely making their choice with a measurable outcome  for them to grasp.

The Election Process in Age-Appropriate Terms 

“For Lower School, it’s important for students to understand what a vote is, why we vote, how we prepare to vote, and specifically what a majority vote means,” Head of Lower School Francis Yasharian P’36 shared. “To concretize these concepts for our youngest learners, we held a mock election for two dessert choices: Rice Krispie treats or M&M cookies. Grade 4 tabulated the votes. Grade 3 led a recount of the votes.” 

Dr. Yasharian and Chef N’dia ‘certified’ the vote before announcing the winner to students the following day, on November 6: the M&M cookie took the honor. Within one week, the students will get to enjoy the winning cookie, communicating in a clear way that each vote matters.

On the day that the winning dessert was announced, one child said to Dr. Yasharian, “I voted for Rice Krispie treats, but my choice didn’t win. I’m disappointed but it will be okay,” reflecting that through experiencing this fun process of voting and some short-lived uncertainty, the student felt a sense of safety and security at school throughout.

Post-Election 

On the day after the Presidential election, homeroom teachers made space for students to ask questions and express their feelings about the results. When discussing sensitive topics, Lower School teachers follow the same protocol; they let students’ questions guide the class conversation and teachers share answers in a concise, truthful, and developmentally appropriate way with “just the facts.”

Learning about elections and voting will continue in the weeks ahead even though the presidential election has concluded. Just as the mock election did not result in an immediate dessert, we want students to understand that a lot of preparation happens between voting day and inauguration.

Thank you!

A special thank you to the Lower School teachers who set up the beautiful polling station: Susie Brandmeyer P’24, ’26, ’29, Lizzie Poleski, Sarah Davies, Stacy Hunter, Inha Yang, and the ballot box, crafted by Danielle Cochran.

To learn more about election-related programming at the Lower School, current families may visit the Presidential Election 2024 Lower School Plan in the Parent Portal.