"Community"

 

Our school community has much to be thankful for as we celebrate during this winter break. 

We are fortunate to have a community

Mrs. O'Neill is joined by Emily, Ahmed, Zach and Nicole, to celebrate our generous Angel Tree donations.

of learners and educators who work well together, learning and engaging with one another.  These past four months at school have been busy, full of assignments, projects, and presentations that our students did with great success.  The projects have been excellent and the general day-to-day learning has been evident from the work I have seen in the classrooms and on the bulletin boards.  Thank you to the students and their teachers.

 

Another aspect of our community that I am very proud of is our diversity.  As we entered this holiday season, our families prepared for different family traditions and celebrations that are enjoyed at their homes.  Some of these traditions are religious, some are cultural, and some are simply the way their parents were raised and these practices have been passed down from one generation to the next. 

Before the break began, we heard about

Zay and Peter share information about Islam.

the many practices that our students and their families have in their homes.  During the Lower and Middle School town meetings we had eight 8th graders do presentations on four different religious celebrations.  These eight students prepared four different PowerPoint presentations that represented how these traditions may be practiced in many of our student homes.  These presentations were not to focus on the religious beliefs only, but was more on using it as an educational opportunity for all of our students to learn about our diverse student body during this holiday season. 

 

A special thank you to the eighth grade students: Megan Keller and Shea Lawless (Christianity), Zay Jennings and Peter Stansbery (Islam), Emily Kasarda and Gretchen Ray (Hinduism), and Benj Cohen and Evan Haltzman Tracy (Judaism).  These were useful educational presentations that represented our diverse community here on campus and in the world.  We hope talking about these religions will allow us to help formulate a better understanding about these traditions. 

 

Mrs. Akers, Hannah, and Mrs. Johnson learn about 'reverence', our December virtue of the month.

Even in our Preschool and Prekinder-garten, the teachers presented to their students the different practices that are being celebrated in the homes of many people in our community.  Our goal is to continue to find ways to help our students develop more reverence or respect for one another and to celebrate that we all have different ways to celebrate this time of the year in our homes, and in our communities outside The Swain School.  

 

The Independent Schools I have been associated with over 20 years have given the students the opportunity to think about the world, to specifically learn about the globe and its people and their cultures.

One of the ways we learn about different cultures is through music.

They can also become individuals who can celebrate and be proud about their own beliefs, and develop the ability to accept the practices of other individuals and understand how to respect one another, even if our traditions may not be the same.  This type of education, coupled with the academics and the development of our students' emotional intelligence, will help provide the big opportunities our students deserve and will provide amazing results in their lives.  This is the type of community I often speak about to parents and their children.  Our community is strong, both in the good times and in the bad. 

 

During this past four months alone, we have had parents hospitalized, close family members pass on, pregnancy announcements, births, and other personal issues that impact our community in many ways.  I cannot thank all of you enough, for understanding that this community of learners includes caring for one another during the good times and the difficult times.  In addition to the important job of providing an outstanding academic program, we work very hard at creating the healthy balance that helps guide the students within our mission, and to prepare them for their future.  We all look forward to 2011 and hope all of us take the time to "get connected" with one another in the Swain community.

 

As I mentioned in my last message, I hope we all take the opportunity to enjoy the act of play over the break with your children, family and friends.  I wish all of you the very best during this meaningful time together with plenty of rest, play, laughter, and family.  When you return in January 2011, we will be looking forward to watching and witnessing your children grow and develop.

 

Warmly,

 

Todd