Dear Parents,
I have to admit that I miss being with all of you. Informal chit-chat times gave me a chance to connect with you as parents and to keep you updated. With Covid restrictions, (and I am so grateful to our team for making in-person school possible), I see little of you. We greet one another in the morning, and then we all move along in our strange, isolated ways.
I miss my personal connections with the children. For now I must refrain from kneeling down to hug, encourage, or comfort a child. Like you, I must keep my space. I am trying to connect with the children and the faculty by briefly visiting their classrooms. Little by little, we are coming together. Today Mackenzie and I ran the flag up the pole together. What a difference that small joy made in my morning.
When I close your car doors, I know that you are missing all that is happening here, behind our closed doors. So I write today to update you just a little on what is happening behind our doors. Admissions season (another strange, Covid moment) is in full swing. Albeit different, Marilyn Wanner’s days are packed with virtual visits and conversations about Crossroads. Last week we hosted eleven families for a virtual open school. Erin Drury has been very engaged in refreshing our website. I hope that you will take a moment to peruse it. I think you will be excited! Scotty Harris, Holly Gardner, and their faculty are very busy making plans for their divisions. Everything from how to safely celebrate Valentines Day to creating a virtual musical is on their minds. I love how each division is working on playing. You’ve got that right. They are trying, in very creative ways, to find ways to make this Covid year as enjoyable and safe as possible. Dance parties in the Lower School and outdoor fire roasted lunches come to mind for me.
Meanwhile, even further from view, our NEASC five-year accreditation report is being completed. As an accredited school we report regularly to the accrediting body to update them on our progress and to report growth and changes. We had a lot to tell them about the Fanger Center! And finally, behind the scenes, our Head of School Search Committee is working hard to lay the groundwork for a successful search.
In an effort to help us connect, our Parent Association is also creating a new conduit for us to connect to one another. Check out “Crossroads Connections” in this and upcoming newsletters.
As we come in this home stretch before the February vacation week, I want to wish you all the best during this week. I hope that you enjoy some relaxing and enjoyable time with your wonderful children.
Warmly, Jean
