| Building Davidson Day's Future Around Unwavering Passion to Develop the Potential in Each Child |
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I love our school. This past week, our administrative team went off campus for a day of reflection and planning. It was our opportunity NOT to discuss the day-to-day running of the school, but to get at the heart and soul of who we are as a school, what we want to become, and how to ensure we retain our very best qualities when we finally get there. Did I say, I love our school?
It was an amazing day for me as I experienced these 15 very different men and women representing very different functions of the school all rallying around the same, singular vision – your children – and meeting their individual needs as students and as members of our greater community. I have never been at any other school – or any other business for that matter – where that actually happens. Sure, I have worked at schools where every employee or administrator can recite the mission statement and has memorized the core values. But that’s not the same thing as experiencing a true, passionate conviction that reaches deeply into hearts and minds and shapes thoughts and decisions. You can’t fake this kind of passion and commitment. It’s the difference between memorizing material so you can ace the test vs. knowing how to apply and use the information effectively to make a difference. Our administrators “get it.” They were quite passionate about our need as a school to ensure that every teacher, every staff member, every member of our community embraces and lives the commitment to individualized education – now, five years from now, and 100 years from now; whether we’re at 400 students, 800 students or 1000 students. When our teachers and staff demonstrate such dedication and passion in their chosen life’s work, only then can they be effective mentors and exemplars for our children. We will accept nothing less. We already have an amazing faculty. They are expected to be experts in their field, possess a broad range of versatility and life experiences to share with their students, approach each day with a positive, professional attitude, and most importantly, live the Davidson Day vision. Our parents support us, and our Board of Trustees utilizes its talents every day to further our school’s mission. And your children benefit. They love coming to school. They love their teachers. They love their friends. They feel safe, supported and challenged. They have opportunities to participate and lead. And they are being prepared for success in college and in their lives beyond. Our work, however, has only begun. Our administrative leadership team will hold its second retreat next week. We will continue to discuss and chart our future path to ensure we put in place a self-perpetuating system of staying true to our mission. We want to ensure that Davidson Day School always stays focused on the individual needs of children, pushes each child to excel beyond his expectation, prepares them for the best colleges and for a meaningful and fulfilling life beyond college, and involves families, teachers, and community as an integral part of the process. In the coming weeks and throughout the year, we will be hosting discussion groups, book clubs, themed Parent Council meetings, and other family-centered opportunities so our school community can come together to discuss many of these issues in person. I hope you attend as many of these programs as possible. Just think what we will be able to achieve together.
Warmest Regards, Bonnie
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