A Letter to Lower School Families

Greetings Lower School Families,

Here we are, friends, back at the beginning of a new school year! I hope these last few weeks have been restful and restorative for you in the best possible ways. My personal theme for the summer, perhaps like many of you, was “reconnecting.” I grew up spending my summers in South Carolina—it’s where I learned how to ride a bike and (sort of) drive a car. It’s worth noting that I was 7 years old at the time and sat on my grandmother’s lap!  As soon as my eye spies a palmetto tree, I sigh in appreciation of my return to routine, comfort, and familiarity. Nothing has brought me more joy this summer than visiting my family and friends in Charleston to share laughs, excursions, and really good food. In between gluttonous meals, I tried to perfect my own versions of quintessential Southern comfort dishes while taking part in a recently acquired pastime of reading Southern cuisine cookbooks. This is my idea of bliss.

I get the same feeling of familiarity when I pass Wheeler on quiet weekends or after a while away from the East Side. As we prepare to rejoin our friends and school family, I’m energized by the thought of returning to our own familiar routines (like in-person community meetings!). I know we’re all craving a year to reconnect.

As with most years, not only are we reconnecting with what is known to us, but we’re connecting with what is new to us. For the Lower School, we are welcoming 19 new students to the Providence campus and 40 new families to our newly established nature-based preschool, The Nest, in Seekonk, MA. We eagerly anticipate getting to know everyone in the coming months, and we know that you’ll come to know the warmth of the community soon. 

We started and ended last year well, and the same will be true this year. If you’ve been following the news, you know schools are continuing their COVID risk mitigation practices, particularly for the youngest kids. In the coming weeks, we will share detailed guidance for families about this year’s protocols and procedures. In the meantime, please know that I look forward to seeing you all —to seeing how much the kids have grown and to hearing about all the ways your families have found time and space to reconnect. Send me photos of your best moments together and I’ll share them with the Lower School community in September’s division-wide communication. Despite what may be happening in the world around us, reminders of togetherness can provide comfort that’s much needed these days.

Lastly, you can expect to receive postcards from your child’s teacher in the next few days. Until September 1, stay safe and enjoy these last moments of summer.

Warmly,

Felicia