I am often reminded of Robert Fulghum’s “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” a book that first appeared in the mid-1980s. I remember being struck by it at the time, by how something so profound could also be so uncomplicated. The lessons were simple, yet deeply powerful. I was genuinely impressed that the most important truths about life could be pared down to a short list of ideas that anyone could understand and live by.
Happy New Year! As we begin the second semester and step into 2026, this feels like a natural moment to pause, reflect, and set a positive path forward. A new year often brings renewed energy and fresh routines, and for many of our students, the holiday season also brought exciting new gifts, including devices and new ways to connect.
Years from now, students may not remember exactly how many food items they collected or which day they wore their tacky-wacky Christmas sweater. But they will remember the joy of watching Thatcher Hall sparkle after being decorated for Christmas. They will remember the sound of the Holiday Festival, the pride of performing in “The Littlest Christmas Tree,” the warmth of the Thanksgiving Feast, and the moment they realized their efforts in the Backpack Buddy Food Drive helped people in a real and meaningful way.
As parents and educators, we are not just along for the ride. We are guiding our children toward that exciting moment when they slide into the driver's seat, full of confidence and ready to chart their own course. That moment is called student agency, when children begin to believe, “I can do this. I can make choices that matter.”
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, and every year when it comes around, I am reminded of our own family’s journey that began more than 20 years ago when we were living in Los Angeles. It’s a story I carry close to my heart, not only as an educator but as a parent who once sat on the other side of the table, desperate to understand why my bright, curious, imaginative little girl couldn’t learn to read.
I am often reminded of Robert Fulghum’s “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” a book that first appeared in the mid-1980s. I remember being struck by it at the time, by how something so profound could also be so uncomplicated. The lessons were simple, yet deeply powerful. I was genuinely impressed that the most important truths about life could be pared down to a short list of ideas that anyone could understand and live by.
Happy New Year! As we begin the second semester and step into 2026, this feels like a natural moment to pause, reflect, and set a positive path forward. A new year often brings renewed energy and fresh routines, and for many of our students, the holiday season also brought exciting new gifts, including devices and new ways to connect.
Years from now, students may not remember exactly how many food items they collected or which day they wore their tacky-wacky Christmas sweater. But they will remember the joy of watching Thatcher Hall sparkle after being decorated for Christmas. They will remember the sound of the Holiday Festival, the pride of performing in “The Littlest Christmas Tree,” the warmth of the Thanksgiving Feast, and the moment they realized their efforts in the Backpack Buddy Food Drive helped people in a real and meaningful way.
As parents and educators, we are not just along for the ride. We are guiding our children toward that exciting moment when they slide into the driver's seat, full of confidence and ready to chart their own course. That moment is called student agency, when children begin to believe, “I can do this. I can make choices that matter.”
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, and every year when it comes around, I am reminded of our own family’s journey that began more than 20 years ago when we were living in Los Angeles. It’s a story I carry close to my heart, not only as an educator but as a parent who once sat on the other side of the table, desperate to understand why my bright, curious, imaginative little girl couldn’t learn to read.
