Learning Together with Our Little Friends from School #39

April 28, 2026 --- "Play is the answer to how anything new comes about," the famous developmental psychologist Piaget said. So instead of shouting “Careful!” every time a child kicks a ball, holds a brush, or digs for bugs, let them play.

In the imaginative world of games, there’s one very special form of play: board games. When we gather around the table, roll the dice, and move pieces across a board, we are not just passing time; we are building relationships, bridging generational gaps, preserving memories, and improving health.

Scrabble, checkers, or snakes and ladders – whether it’s a competitive strategy game or a puzzle, board games have the unique ability to bring people together and teach life skills. It is no surprise that they are now a powerful tool for community outreach.

As part of the ESL Department’s Service-Learning Program, which is now in its 21st year and led by Roumyana Ivanova, ACS 8th graders created their own board games to share with younger children from the 39th School in Mladost 2. This annual initiative, which began in the 2004-2005 school year, aims to introduce ACSers to the value of community service and volunteerism.

Working in partnership with students from grades 1-4, the 8th graders designed custom board games and worksheets to help their younger partners improve their English skills in an engaging way. In our SCIFI Lab, students collaborated to build boards and pieces, using diverse materials like cards, animal figures, pebbles, and original artwork.

The project’s culminating event took place on April 1, 2026, when the younger students visited the ACS campus for the annual Games Fair. It was heartwarming to see the visiting students recognize and warmly welcome their ACS buddies, whom they had already met during the college students' visits to their school in March. Next, the games will be delivered to the classrooms at the 39th School, where they will continue to be a source of joy. Because whether little or grown up, we all love to play and learn best through play!