It’s hard to believe, but here we are! Just one month left in the school year. The spring sunshine seems to speed up the days, and suddenly, we’re rounding the final bend. This is the season of missing teeth, well-worn sneakers, and that bittersweet feeling of watching your child grow up before your eyes.
I have been thinking a good bit about the journey we have taken together, not just as educators and parents, but as partners walking alongside children who are becoming more of themselves with every challenge they face. Back in the fall, I invited us all to consider lighthouse parenting, to be that steady, guiding light for our children without doing the navigating for them. Looking at our students now, it’s humbling to see just how much they have grown when given the space to try, to stumble, to get back up, and try again.
Growth often takes root in quiet places: in the moments after a tough test, on the sidelines of a friendship conflict, or in the quiet courage it takes to speak up when something does not feel right. These are not moments we can plan for as parents, and they don’t always come with a neat resolution. But when we step back just a bit, they become powerful turning points. We have seen it again and again this year: children learning to advocate for themselves, take responsibility, and show kindness and grit in equal measure. These are the lessons that will not show up on a progress report or in the gradebook, but they are the ones that matter most.
So much can happen in a school year. The backpack that seemed too big in August now fits just right. The tentative, shy wave at drop-off has become a confident stride through the cottage door…even a full sprint at times. And goals that once felt just out of reach? Our children have worked hard and reached their goals. They have not only grown academically, but they have grown into themselves.
This time of year invites us to pause and look both ways, through the rearview mirror at the distance we’ve traveled and through the windshield at the transitions ahead. And while the road is not always smooth, it has been a meaningful journey. There is beauty in the journey: in its detours, its milestones, and in the small moments we might have missed if we were not paying attention. These are the moments to cherish.
In the coming weeks, we will gather as a school community to celebrate and honor your children, recognizing their progress, courage, and character. From Field Day and Final Assemblies to end-of-year ceremonies and class traditions, we will take time to recognize not only what they’ve learned, but who they are becoming.
Please mark your calendars for these special culminating events. We look forward to sharing these meaningful moments with you:
Thursday, May 15: Final Assemblies and 8th Grade Moving-Up Ceremony
Friday, May 16: Pre-K to 8 Field Day
Wednesday, May 21: 6-8 Honor Roll Recognition Assembly
Thursday, May 22: One Final Carline (for 8th grade families)
In addition to these culminating events, please check out the full list of “Upcoming Events” in this newsletter, along with the Announcements Page and full calendar of events on the Darlington School website.
Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in us this year. It has been an honor to walk this road with you and with your children. What a privilege it is to wit
