In my early years of teaching, I approached writing narrative reports as the chance to tell the story of each student's experience in my English class. It was partly my attempt to make sure I was capturing each student authentically as I composed report after report until I'd written about 60 students in all. But it was also my genuine attempt to ensure everyone, including myself, that my students' hard work had meaning, well beyond the sum of their test scores and graded essays.
Last month, teachers at FSH dedicated themselves to composing such narrative reports--to provide the story of your child's experiences in their classroom. Later this week, families in grades 1-8 will receive an email letting them know how to access their child's reports. These individual narratives provide a depth of insight and understanding of each child as a learner that few other forms of assessment or evaluation can match. They are, in essence, individual stories, crafted with intention and care, meant to share your child's learning experiences. I hope you'll join me in expressing gratitude to all of our teachers for putting on an author's hat and capturing these stories (all while shepherding their students through the frenzied days before Winter Break).
While I am certainly grateful that this new position has given me some time off from the labor-intensive report-writing process, I still find myself drawn, as always, to storytelling. In many ways, my reflections in these Weekly Updates are an attempt to tell the story of Friends School Haverford. I'm trying to create a written narrative of what we do here, why we do it, why it matters now as much as ever, and my deep, abiding belief in this small Quaker school with an enormous heart. Of course, my contribution is just one small part of a 135-year-long story. Still, I so value this chance to put my author skills to the test and capture the values and experiences that have long made Friends School Haverford a welcoming, kind, diverse, and socially-conscious community.
Given your role in this most recent story of Friends School Haverford, I hope you will join Bev Keith, Clerk of School Committee, and myself this Thursday at 8:15 am (in person or via Facebook Live). We'll share our thoughts about what the strategic planning process has brought into focus for us and where we hope the next steps will take us. We also want to hear your questions, your wishes, the details and concerns that matter to you.
I have taken on the role of storyteller for the time being, but your children and your family are the main characters. Together, we will continue the story into the new year ahead-- I'm genuinely looking forward to all that unfolds.