From the Desk of the Head of School- August 23, 2019

8/20/2019

Dear Parents,

Congratulations on completing the first full week of school. I know there are a lot of tired kids who are eager to get some rest and relaxation this weekend. The PreK and Kindergarten will be starting full days next week and our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders are returning to school after a week of retreats.

In fact, as I write this, I am coming from what I have to say is probably the best end to a school week I’ve had in some time! Our 8th grade students and advisors were circled up in the center of the second floor of the middle school today and, after several days away at NaCoMe Camp and Retreat Center in Centerville, TN, were sharing appreciations of their classmates and advisors. Each student looked to their left and shared what they valued about the person next to them. Some appreciated help offered in a kayak experience, others gushed about discovering a mutual love for books, still others marveled at their classmate’s ability to somehow make everyone around her feel comfortable (that one got a big AAAWWW!)

What I realized was that, despite the natural awkwardness that accompanies 8th graders generally, these students - many of whom have been together since kindergarten, and many of whom have joined at various points in between - had reconnected, genuinely, through this retreat experience. Our 8th grade team designed it to be something that brought them together and prepared them to lead the school. I am excited about where they will take us this year. The Class of 2020 will, as the oldest students on campus, model downward for our younger students who look up to them. Eighth Graders benefit from the fact that they do not have the pressure to mirror upward in some artificial attempt to impress older students. To me, this circle of appreciation was an early step towards the development of a deeper maturity which our PreK-8 model promotes.

It also wasn’t lost on me that the parents of the Class of 2020 had come together at the end of last week at a class party that allowed them to reconnect as well. It was a moment to celebrate their commitment to our model as they begin to contemplate next steps in their child’s educational journey. What has always been true about Harding Academy is that while our focus is on educating and inspiring young people during the ten most formative years of their lives, we also foster families and parents during the ten most formative parenting years of their lives. It is a special bond for students and parents alike; and for me, that has been made even clearer in the activities of the Class of 2020 this past week.

Over the course of these next couple of months you all will have a chance to reconnect with the parents in your grade, thanks to parties given by the Harding Parents Association. In fact, we had the Class of 2023 and the Class of 2028 on campus last night for their parent parties. If you can make it to your class party, I highly recommend it. Meanwhile, we will be fostering connection in and amongst your children here at school. As we begin this school year, I am filled with excitement about where these connections will take us.

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