Dear Pre-K Families,
I hope this letter finds you well and filled with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. I hope your summer has been filled with fun, cherished moments. As we prepare to launch another school year, it is with great excitement and enthusiasm that I extend a warm welcome to each and every one of you. Whether you are returning members of our vibrant community or joining us for the first time, we are thrilled to embark on a new journey together.
The start of a school year is always a time of fresh beginnings and boundless possibilities. This year, we are setting our sights on "The Year of Math," a theme that will infuse our classrooms with a sense of discovery and inquiry. We believe that mathematics is not just a subject, but a powerful tool that fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. Through engaging activities and projects, our students will explore the beauty and intricacies of math, cultivating a deeper appreciation for its role in our daily lives.
In alignment with our Quaker values, we have chosen "Simplicity" as our guiding theme for the year. In a world often filled with complexity, we seek to embrace simplicity as a way to find clarity, focus, and authenticity in our lives. This theme will be woven into our daily interactions, fostering a sense of unity and purpose among our students, staff, families, and caregivers. Throughout the year, students will have the opportunity to engage with the Quaker SPICES (Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality/Equity, Stewardship) in meaningful ways, as these values undergird the collective work that we all do at Greene Street Friends School.
One of the most gratifying aspects of being part of the Greene Street Friends School community is witnessing the incredible growth and development of our students. As they learn and explore, they also engage in initiatives that nurture their character and sense of responsibility and unlock their curiosity. In addition to intentional, student-centered learning that takes place in classrooms, initiatives like service learning and student leadership opportunities, such as TORCH for middle school students and Town Hall for lower school students, provide avenues for our students to make a positive impact within and beyond our school community. Students will also engage in community-building opportunities, like assemblies, partners, and clubs. In addition, students will extend their learning off campus, as they go on exciting field trips, whether to local day trips, overnight camping experiences, or even abroad to Costa Rica!
These opportunities not only create distinct memories for our students but also show that learning is a dynamic, multifaceted experience at Greene Street Friends School. Our commitment to academic excellence and whole-child education remains unwavering. Our curriculum is thoughtfully designed to promote both academic growth and social-emotional development. Through curricula such as Life Skills, Everyday Math, Readers and Writers' Workshop, Fundations, Heggerty, Pollyanna, in addition to the innovative and carefully crafted lessons of our teachers, we provide a well-rounded educational experience that nurtures each child's unique potential.
To ensure that each student's academic needs are met, we utilize assessment tools like Renaissance's Star 360 and Fountas and Pinnell as a guidepost to help tailor our instruction and support while gaining data to help students thrive and experience academic growth throughout the year. Our student-centered approach to pedagogy allows us to address individual strengths and areas for growth, fostering an environment where every child can thrive academically and personally.
As we embark on this new school year, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your trust and partnership. Together, we will create an environment where our students not only excel academically but also experience a joy for learning and a passion for becoming change agents within and outside of the Greene Street Friends community. Our shared journey promises to be impactful and inspiring, and I am eager to see the remarkable moments that await us.
Thank you for being an integral part of this community. Here's to a year filled with joy, growth, exploration, and boundless possibilities.
With warm regards,
Darien
Associate Head of School
