Parents of lower school students gathered in the Taylor Media Center on March 16 to explore questions about what makes excellent learning. Over a half-hour, parents were free to explore and discuss several thematic questions, including "What knowledge, skills, and outcomes do we want for our students to help them lead happy, productive lives?" Amazingly, there were over sixty responses to just this one question. Certain themes emerged, like the importance of self-confidence, resilience, critical thinking, and self-awareness. Other thoughtful ideas emerged such as adaptability and civic awareness.
As the moderator, it was wonderful and rewarding to watch the interplay between parents and to listen to the discussions about learning develop. As an educator and school leader, it is invaluable to hear from parents about what they hope their child's learning experience will be and how James River Day School can play a part in shaping that journey.
There are two more coffees scheduled: April 13 at 8:20am is set for parents of middle school students and April 18 at 7:00pm is open to parents of all grades. I hope you will join me and your fellow parents to explore these important topics together.