“Values Bind a Community” ― Charles H. Vogl, The Art of Community: Seven Principles for Belonging
This week, I have observed our teachers and students falling into the familiar routines of school. I have witnessed and participated in hands-on lessons for grammar, math, spelling, and social studies. I enjoyed all of the lessons, but I was enthralled with the first-grade lesson on community, where students learned about the different aspects of community and then designed their own. As a history teacher, it warmed my heart to see our students so engaged in collaboration and having fun while doing it. It also prompted me to reflect on the power of community at James River Day School.
Community is the foundation of a JRDS education, and I love seeing our faculty and students strive to keep our community strong and joyful by contributing their thoughts, talents, and experiences. Sometimes these endeavors are outside of an individual's comfort zone, but they persevere to grow. Our middle school advisories have begun engaging in community-building activities to promote meaningful connections and support character and leadership growth. This new way to engage our advisories may feel unfamiliar, but we are hearing positive feedback from students on how fun it is to connect and share. This theme of sharing and connecting continued with several faculty members presenting at our most recent faculty meeting to share more about their summer learning experiences. John Gillum and Ann Shenigo led a dynamic discussion on their summer reading book, How to Know a Person by David Brooks, guiding our faculty on how to be an “illuminator” versus a “diminisher” to bring out the best in people. Anne Taylor shared her experiences traveling to Peru for five weeks this summer to teach in a rural community. She was the inaugural recipient of the Kristen Cook Excellence in Teaching Renewal Grant. Her reflections on her time in Peru were poignant and breathtaking. While John’s, Ann’s, and Anne’s presentations were spectacular and thought-provoking, teachers generally are not accustomed to presenting to their peers, so these types of presentations can feel quite daunting. I am proud of them for sharing for the betterment of our faculty. They are remarkable examples of a growth mindset for our students.
Our James River community doesn’t just reside in our classrooms. As such, I hope that our JRDS families will attend our Fall Family Picnic on September 12. The Parents Association has put together a fun event for all, and the invitation with details went out yesterday. Be sure to RSVP by Tuesday (9/9). I also hope JRDS parents will come to Back-to-School Night on September 18, so mark your calendars. This is a parent-only event, and we look forward to connecting with parents that evening.
Let’s Fly!
Jenn