I can't believe that it is already spring break. When we come back to school it will be April. Trips will begin, then graduation and Camp Carefee Day and Magic Penny and another school year will be complete.
However, what a school year it has been for us so far. From my perspective curriculum and vertical continuity have never been stronger. Our teachers are finding ways to balance the age old lessons of being a community member (citizenry) with the newest of skills needed for todays's world, ie, analyzing data, agility and adaptability, initiative, imagination, collaboration, etc.
Our community events have been outstanding, from the pancake breakfast and workday, to the Peace Potluck, Fall Unity Festival, Fiesta de los Ninos and the Lyndon Street Art and Music Exhibit. We are all looking forward to Many Friends, Many Voices on April 25th-this concert will be a new and exciting way for NGFS to provide the arts to our greater community.
We have a group of students and adults who are travelling to Cuba over Spring Break to do service work in that community. How many schools can offer that for its students! Many thanks to Robb for all the hard work involved in making this trip possible.
I could ramble on much longer, but in a nut shell that is where we have been and where we are going. With a quarter of the year remaining our enrollment is strong and the immediate future for the school looks great. Thanks to all of you: parents, staff, trustees, students and friends of the school for making NGFS the incredible learning community that it is.
I hope everyone has an opportunity to relax and rejuvenate over break, and hope everyone comes back energized so that we have a strong finish to the 09-10 school year. Safe travels to all of you on the road or in the air over break!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Celebrating and Honoring Diversity
Wow!, what a program that was put together for our annual Diversity Day celebration. Thanks so much to the staff and parents that worked so hard to put this together. This is such an important event for our school community. It is one outward manifestation of our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive community.
This year the committee chose the topic, "Movement of Change-Overcoming and Moving Beyond Segregation in Our Society." In part, this was to honor the 50th anniversary of the Woolworth "Sit-ins" in Greensboro.
The committee even outlined goals for the day:
Students will understand difficulties other people in their own community might have experienced or are currently experiencing based on race, religion, gender, economic situation, disability, etc.
Students will have the opportunity to listen, discuss, ask questions and become involved in a workshop dealing with a specific topic related to the theme.
Students will be able to identify something they can do (at their own level) to make a difference in helping the lives of others.
We began this morning with the entire community coming together for meeting for worship. Logie Meachum, a dynamic storyteller and singer and also a long time friend of NGFS, shared stories and wisdoms around the theme of "A Long Walk in the Night."
After meeting for worship there were a series of age-appropriate workshops conducted for students either at New Garden Friends Meeting, our Guilford campus or our Pleasant Ridge campus.
I didn't, and couldn't, get to every workshop. But I did get to hear a few of them. One from the Horizon age group, one from Rainbow and two for upper division students. Each was incredibly powerful. One at the upper division was a presentation by a Tuskegee Airman. There are only a handful of these airmen still alive. His story was so moving, his drive to accomplish the goal of being a pilot was unweilding. I think all of us who heard him were moved.
The entire day was such a strong statement of the so many good things about our community. Again thanks to those who made today possible: the volunteers, the presenters, and our students who were so attentive throughout the day.
This year the committee chose the topic, "Movement of Change-Overcoming and Moving Beyond Segregation in Our Society." In part, this was to honor the 50th anniversary of the Woolworth "Sit-ins" in Greensboro.
The committee even outlined goals for the day:
Students will understand difficulties other people in their own community might have experienced or are currently experiencing based on race, religion, gender, economic situation, disability, etc.
Students will have the opportunity to listen, discuss, ask questions and become involved in a workshop dealing with a specific topic related to the theme.
Students will be able to identify something they can do (at their own level) to make a difference in helping the lives of others.
We began this morning with the entire community coming together for meeting for worship. Logie Meachum, a dynamic storyteller and singer and also a long time friend of NGFS, shared stories and wisdoms around the theme of "A Long Walk in the Night."
After meeting for worship there were a series of age-appropriate workshops conducted for students either at New Garden Friends Meeting, our Guilford campus or our Pleasant Ridge campus.
I didn't, and couldn't, get to every workshop. But I did get to hear a few of them. One from the Horizon age group, one from Rainbow and two for upper division students. Each was incredibly powerful. One at the upper division was a presentation by a Tuskegee Airman. There are only a handful of these airmen still alive. His story was so moving, his drive to accomplish the goal of being a pilot was unweilding. I think all of us who heard him were moved.
The entire day was such a strong statement of the so many good things about our community. Again thanks to those who made today possible: the volunteers, the presenters, and our students who were so attentive throughout the day.
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