Scene & Heard: ‘A mentorship disguised as fun’ in Vashon schools

Brick by brick, island students have been building friendships and memories in a new elective class this year based on Lego.

By Elizabeth Shepherd • January 28, 2026 10:09 am

Brick by brick, students at McMurray Middle School and Chautauqua Elementary School have been building friendships and memories in a new elective class this year based on Lego.

The Lego class, taught by Erin Blaser, is filled with imaginative and dexterous sixth, seventh and eighth-graders. But not only middle schoolers are enjoying the class. Since last fall, fifth-grade students from Chautauqua Elementary School have been making regular treks over to McMurray to pair up with Blaser’s students on Lego projects.

“It’s a great mentorship opportunity disguised as fun,” Blaser said, describing the project she devised in a partnership with fifth-grade teacher Ashley Smith. “Finding ways to connect with each other in a fun, non-threatening way can make it easier to dig into trickier, tougher issues when and if they arise. And seeing familiar faces around town — and in classes in the future — can really be a hugely positive protective factor for students, as well.”

Almost all of those “familiar faces” wore wide smiles on Jan. 16, when students involved in the project celebrated a milestone.

That day, the middle-school students presented their elementary-aged buddies with one-of-a-kind gifts: Lego kits they had dreamed up, crafted and built especially for them, based on their long “getting to know you” experiences together in the class.

The kits — complete with detailed illustrated instructions made by the middle schoolers and new Lego bricks purchased with a Vashon Partners in Education grant — were take-home ready, providing the fifth-graders with lasting and positive memories of McMurray, where they’ll arrive as sixth-graders in the fall.

“I think that through building positive relationships among students at different buildings and of different ages, we will create a stronger, healthier community,” said Blaser.

Izzy, a fifth-grader, and Bodhi, a seventh-grader, constructed a verdant bamboo jungle. (Elizabeth Shepherd Photo)

(Left to right) Sherpa, a seventh-grader, with fifth-grader Paloma, eighth-grader Leo and fifth-grader Jorge. (Elizabeth Shepherd Photos)

(Left to right) Middle-schooler Edie, and Mirabai, a fifth-grader, displayed their Lego project that Edie created based on a spooky story based in a woodland setting. (Elizabeth Shepherd Photo)