Dear Families,
I hope this Friday note finds you all winding down after a heavy week filled with images, sounds and words that reflect the tumultuous times in which we find ourselves.
We've nearly reached the end of the 2019-20 school year, and we can say with near certainty that none of us have experienced this level of simultaneous upheaval before. Some of us know how racism negatively impacts our lives and the lives of those we love and care for; others of us lived through another medical scourge — the AIDS crisis, when people we knew and loved died at the hands of that vicious disease. Still more of us remember what it was like to experience the previous uprisings of marginalized communities and the subsequent immediate and long-term police responses to that anger.
By now, you know that I am a big believer in using the powerful words from wiser folks than me to help shape my thoughts as I begin and end each week with these messages to you.
"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."
In this simple statement, Dr. King pointed to the simple fact that while the circumstances we are experiencing can be difficult to imagine ever getting better, continued and sustained hope can see us through to the other side of these challenges.
The end of each school year always leaves me hopeful. Despite the current state of things, that still remains true. Watching fifth graders and their families dancing in their little rectangles on a Zoom call to "Celebrate" their 5th graders' moving up to Middle School; listening to small groups of 3rd graders sharing their visions for equitable and sustainable communities in their Cities of the Future; and seeing 4th graders learning about the connection between food and culture — sometimes cultures that are unfamiliar — these and many more examples give me hope. I'm optimistic that as they grow older and move into different grades with new and familiar peers and teachers, they will take with them not just memories of what was hard during this spring, but memories of what they learned about each other, themselves, and the world.
Here are a couple of optimistic and fun events on the horizon:
Virtual Egg Drop - Monday, June 8, 9:30am
Password: breakanegg!
LS-E students will have their closing assembly on Tuesday, June 9, at 10:30am. Please help your child set an alarm to be there! They will find the link on their GoogleMeet page on Tuesday morning.
That's all for now, and I want to congratulate all of you for getting yourselves and your children through this challenging time. Your patience, strength, humor and resilience allowed us to come out to the other side — as a whole, connected and hopeful community.
Have a safe and restful weekend.
All my best,
Debra