A Great Daniel Webster Story

  1. Updates

Rio did not know any English when he started attending second grade at Daniel Webster. Since no one else at the school spoke Japanese, he didn’t say much. During his first two weeks, I would often see him standing by the play structure looking lost during recess. I would go over to him and encourage him to play games, but he shrank away. I figured he was just shy.

Soon after his arrival, I decided to play four square during class game time. Although the rest of the class knew the game, Rio didn’t appear to be familiar with it. His classmates helped him even though he had difficulty understanding what was being said to him. In one instance during that class, one of his classmates gently pushed him from the front of the line into the “D” square when it was his turn to enter. Rio caught on after watching demonstrations from his classmates. By the end of the class game time he was doing fine.

During recess the next day, Rio bravely left his spot by the structure and joined a four square game for the first time. It was so good to see him finally playing with the other kids. His classroom teacher walked by and noticed Rio in the game– she smiled and gave me the thumbs up.

Rio was eventually placed in a first grade class which meant he went to a different recess. Despite this change, he continues to play four square most days and is one of the best players on the playground. He always helps the kindergartners who are still learning the game. Now whenever he joins a game, the other kids all know to look out for Rio!

More Updates


January 12, 2023

Golden State Warriors Community Foundation & Salesforce partner with Playworks ›

We are grateful for our continued partnership with the Warriors Community Foundation and Salesforce during the 2022-2023 school year. With their support, Playworks Northern California has delivered safe and healthy play to over 41,200 elementary school children of promise this year! Check out this inspiring video showcasing our work together:      

A boy and girl holding basketballs on a playground.
A boy and girl holding basketballs on a playground.

November 16, 2022

2021-22 Annual Report ›

We are excited to share with you a look back at everything we accomplished in the 2021-2022 program year. It was a year focused on rebuilding after the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and we are proud to share that we served 41,200 students in the Northern California Region.  We are thankful for your continued…

three people with Playworks shirts
three people with Playworks shirts

July 28, 2022

A year of social and emotional learning ›

“You can’t do SEL, trauma, or equity work without each other,” Jennette Claassen, Head of Evaluation, Playworks. As Playworks continued to progress on our equity journey, we explored a critical question: what are the intersections between play, social and emotional learning, physical activity, and trauma? A working group focused on this question decided, among other…