A school community can be viewed as a giant network of people united by a common cause. I found myself reflecting on this on Friday, March 6, as our school welcomed the grandparents and grand friends of our students to Grandparents’ Day. This annual event is a favorite for me and for many others, particularly the children. It is a day we celebrate the relationship of children to their families; that very necessary connection to the adults in their lives.
When I talk about how part of James River’s mission is to cherish children, what I really mean is that we all--everyone within the James River community--cherish our children. This cherishing means children have the confidence to try new things, to speak in front of an audience, to stand up for what they believe--all because they have this safety net of loving adults. Adults, who will cheer them on, who will bandage those skinned knees, who will hold them to a high standard of behavior and of scholarship.
As Head of School, my job can often be “cheerleader in chief,” applauding our children when they succeed and coaching them to try harder and be better when they need to try again. So, as we welcomed our guests, I was reminded of the special connection between a grandparent (or grand friend) and a child. The grandparents and grand friends are their families’ “cheerleaders in chief”--applauding and encouraging and reminding children of who they are and from where they come. These relationships bind us as a community, and Friday’s celebration of that emphasized for me how fortunate I am to be connected to this James River family. It was a truly wonderful day.