Dear Parents:

As I reflect upon our opening days this year, and remember last year, I am struck by how much progress we all have made. Although there were some challenges this year as we created new systems and procedures, through it all there were smiling, happy faces – of children, parents, teachers, and support staff.

With the help of so many parent volunteers and the many, many hours they contributed of their time, our school was up and running by September 5th and looked cheerful and inviting. Classrooms were redesigned, including our new Kindergarten room which was previously the dance and music room. The auditorium was given a facelift, and a new library was created in the back of the auditorium out of what was a dark, overcrowded supply closet. Miraculous work. Thank you especially to the imagination and vision of Rachel, Karin and George.

Thank you also to all of the parents for their patience in adjusting to our new drop-off procedures. Thank you, Andreas, for your gentle reminders to parents. We appreciate how difficult it is to stay in the car and let our loved ones go to the playground without us.

How could we have gotten under way without Michelle in the main office? Michelle’s patience and calm demeanor in the face of any request or obstacle are remarkable. We are truly fortunate to have someone as capable and personable as Michelle.

Thank you, George Abrams, for producing this “film” – Our School. Could producing a movie be any more demanding? You have given freely of your time, energy, experience, and vision.

Thank you to the teachers who all spent a week in professional development before school began. (Our new teachers spent 2 weeks.) They worked countless hours getting their rooms ready and in planning curriculum, sometimes staying at the school into the evening hours after a full day of training. They provided an atmosphere of warmth and caring on opening day, and do so every day, as they do the work of creating a nurturing and excellent learning community for our children.

Finally, I believe I speak for the entire school community in thanking our principal, Karin Newlin, without whom none of the above would ever have been possible. Words cannot express all that Karin – and Bruce - have given to our school.

With such a crew, the sky is the limit.

Nancy Martorelli