Dear Parents, The beginning of a new school year is my favorite time of the year. It is so full of hopes, dreams, and possibilities. It makes my heart so happy to reconnect with students and families, and hear about the adventures of childhood. As I read news articles over the summer, and tried to process the current state of the world, I kept bringing myself back to my classroom and this school year. I found myself feeling a deep sense of gratitude for the work that happens in our classrooms each and every day. Here at Arbor, our classrooms are communities; each rich with a variety of diversity, and each holding an opportunity for social conflict. Children at every level have an opportunity to practice and repeat doing hard things. We value the conflict and the congenial resolution at every level. Toddlers who are learning to share, primary students who spend lots of time with grace and courtesy lessons, elementary students who learn to engage and eventually mediate conflicts, and adolescents who go out into the world and put these skills to work. With each and every step students are reminded that we are more alike than we are different, and there is always the opportunity to choose to love, to help, and to contribute to a greater good. These children are our future. Each and every one of them will go out into the world and carry on the hopes and dreams of humanity. In the words of Dr. Maria Montessori, “We then become witnesses to the development of the human soul; the emergence of the New Man, who will no longer be the victim of events but, thanks to his clarity of vision, will become able to direct and to mold the future of mankind.” (The Absorbent Mind, p. 8)So, as we set off on another school year, I just wanted to say that I am thankful to work with each and every one of you. We look forward to continued growth as we welcome in new families, and a whole new generation of mankind. I am thankful for the opportunity to work with such a dedicated group of teachers and staff – and thankful for the opportunity to do my part to make the world a better and more loving place.
With gratitude,
Samantha Vejay
Interim Head of School