Nari Kim, Yard Duty
May 2026 by Deepika
Q: Could you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your connection to our school and what drew you to volunteer for yard duty?
A: I have been part of the Forest Hill community since 2020. I have a 5th grader, Lia, and a 2nd grader, Kyle, at Forest Hill. Since we started during the pandemic, it was hard to connect with other parents. I heard great things about the Forest Hill community and wanted to get involved. As soon as my youngest, Kyle, started Kindergarten at Forest Hill, I jumped right in! That was when I decided to start as a yard duty parent, where I could see my kids playing and connect with the students and teachers. It was a great opportunity.
Q: What made you decide to step into the "yellow vest" role and spend your time out on the yard with the kids?
A: I don’t know how many people realize that I am very introverted, which means I am not always comfortable with small talk with other adults or even teachers. I often wondered, "What can I do with my personality?" I really like children, and as a mom of two, I was confident I could handle a few more without any problem. When I saw that the school needed more help with yard duty, I thought it might be the perfect fit for me! Plus, my good friend Ms. Megha (the ELD teacher at Forest Hill) was on the yard duty team and encouraged me to join
Q: What is your favorite part of the school day to witness? Is there a specific game or area of the yard that is always full of energy?
A: I love seeing kids feel proud of themselves and smiling when they succeed. I never realized how much I would enjoy working with kindergartners; they are so adorable and remind me of when my own children were that age and needed me the most. These young students are still learning the school system and sometimes feel a bit nervous about being away from home.
New games are always a hit, and I am constantly surprised by the creative games they invent. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and often these games spread until the whole school is playing! I am always amazed at how well children of different grades play together. Lately, the most popular game is dodgeball on the basketball courts.
Q: As someone on the front lines of recess, what’s your "secret sauce" for helping students navigate a disagreement or a tough moment during play?
A: When I first started as a yard duty parent, the kids didn’t seem to connect with me right away. It is different being seen as a "yard duty" rather than just a friend’s mom. Even if they recognized me, they often preferred the staff members they were more familiar with. I realized I had to gain their trust to do my job effectively.
Since I’m a bit more on the quiet side, I realized I needed to find my own way of connecting with the students. I tried greeting them first and introducing myself, but that didn’t quite work. Then, I noticed that staff members who knew the kids' names engaged with them much better. I decided to study the yearbook to help me memorize names, and it worked wonderfully! The children were surprised and happy that I recognized them. Calling them by name became my "secret weapon"—it helped them pay attention to me and made handling difficult situations much easier.
Q: What have you learned about our student community by observing them during their most unstructured time of the day?
A: Before joining the yard duty team, I thought I knew the kids just by observing them as a parent—but I was wrong! Kids are so different during lunchtime, especially when teachers aren't around. I never imagined that recess soccer could get so heated; it’s like they’re playing in the World Cup! Honestly, we need an official referee to keep things under control. The kids are so passionate, and every little thing matters to them. It is much harder to keep everyone happy during a game than I ever imagined. I definitely need to learn the official soccer rules in more detail!
Fun Facts
Q: Have you ever tracked your steps during a single yard duty shift? What’s your record?
A: Yes! I have been using the app to count steps. Ever since I joined the yard duty, I wear my watch, and it comes with a pretty good reward to me. Any guesses? In 1.5 hours, I do get an average of 10,000 steps every day! I understand why kids are super tired and hungry after school. Thanks to them, I am working out pretty well.
Q: Based on what you see on the yard, what is currently the most popular game or "recess craze" among the students?
A: Since we don’t play soccer games every day, the soccer games with Allegra’s sports team are very popular. The days when Allegra teams are not present, dodgeball at the basketball court is the new favorite game. There is no name for the game, but it is a new game with new rules, and kids love it. All different grades and genders play together! It gets pretty heated sometimes, but it has been a nice game for both kids and yard duty teams. You can ask your kids about this game. They will love to tell you the stories.