Faculty week is always one of my favorite parts of the year. It is a meaningfully chaotic time for everyone on campus but at the same time it reaps many personal rewards for everyone as well. This week our faculty have been re-establishing our sense of community, identifying professional norms, planning their integrated curriculum, and figuring out some of the logistics of the year. We have truly been a community of lifelong learners.
Each morning of faculty week we have been fortunate enough to have morning meetings, siachs, that have taught and reinforced both our social and emotional curriculum as well as some elements of our school’s T’fillah, prayer, services. These were inspirational times for all of us who participated. These valuable community building events were led by Lior and Morah Jamie. We even practiced using a Havrutah study led by Ms. Schwartz where we studied our schools fundamental beliefs to help us realign our focus to who we are as a school.
Although we have only been back for a week, this sense of community is alive and well amongst our faculty and staff. We have been learning together, laughing together, crying together, helping each other and actively collaborating with one thing in mind: Your Child! When I think of our hashtag: #thisisy, although there are many “y’s,” our main Y is your child! The energy and passion amongst our faculty is so incredibly high this week and this is because we cannot wait to welcome your child back to campus on Tuesday.
As you and your family embrace these final days of summer vacation, my wish for each of you is that you are spending time together and doing something that brings you joy. Further, I hope you are beginning to coach your child though getting accustomed to a new routine so that Tuesday 8/24 is not a complete shock to them. Lastly, I am so incredibly excited to meet you all at the Back to School Bash this Sunday!
