In the Blue Room at The Cornerstone Center, four young friends have been growing up side by side since they were babies. Chance, Kylie, Hazel, and Payton are what their teacher, Miss Rachel, lovingly calls a “big ball of energy”—and with them, there’s truly never a dull moment.
When asked what they like most about being friends, their answers are simple but meaningful. “We play together,” Payton shares. Chance adds, “We help each other.” Whether they’re imagining their way through a game of “the floor is lava,” playing Bluey Candyland, or cooling off at the splash pad, their days are filled with laughter and teamwork.
That teamwork shows up in the little things, too. “We help clean up,” Chance says proudly. And their friendships don’t stop when the school day ends—they even celebrate birthdays together.
In the classroom, they’re building important skills—learning math and numbers—but it’s clear they’re also learning something just as valuable: how to be there for one another.
As they get ready to graduate from 4K, there’s a mix of excitement and a little bit of sadness. “I’ll miss seeing my friends every day,” Payton says, though she’s looking forward to what’s next: “I get to go to my brother’s school.”
When asked the best part about being friends, Payton sums it up perfectly: “We’re partners.”
And that’s exactly what they’ve been from the very beginning.
