Dear GFA Community,
As the events of the last few days, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, have been unfolding in the news, I keep thinking about the impact they are having on our kids. I've been thinking about our black students and our students of color, their families, my colleagues of color, their loved ones, and how this must feel. I'm thinking about our white students and their families, and what they are thinking as they seek to make meaning of this as they consider race, injustice, and their place in the world.
At Greens Farms Academy, we take an emphatic position when it comes to our community and our values. The values of partnership, empathy, and inclusion are at the heart of what drew me and so many of us to GFA. In stark contrast, the images on the news over the last few days have highlighted very real and painful themes of division, inequity, and exclusion. They've also highlighted the need for us to remain unwaveringly committed to our values, ensuring that they're integrated into nearly everything we do with your kids.
Our teachers create opportunities, in developmentally appropriate ways, for our students to make meaning of the world around them — to better understand the injustices they observe related to power, privilege, and race. But most of all, they ensure that all of our kids know that they are loved and that the human dignity of every person in our school community is honored.
The sense of community that an independent school provides is one that I've found to be a gift during difficult times, providing a natural framework that allows us to gather, ask questions, and provide support for one another. I tend to do more listening during times like these, and I am always deeply grateful to be able to hear the perspectives of our students and my colleagues. I reached out to Shanelle Henry, our Director of Equity and Inclusion, and asked for resources to help me as a parent. I've included some of those below, but I invite you to reach out to Shanelle directly with any specific questions you or your family might have.
As we prepare to disperse for the summer, the sense of community that is so essential during challenging times may seem somewhat less available. We want to reassure you that we are still here for each other. The last few months have offered all of us some profound lessons about how connected we are, despite being apart — that what impacts one of us, has an impact on all of us. I hope you won't hesitate to be in touch.