News & Weekly Letters

I have already spoken to you about the growth of our school, how happy we are to know that more and more people are interested in what we are doing, and the pleasure we take in sharing our work with an increasing number of families. I wrote here about one of the risks we will run if we don’t pay attention: the loss of our identity and the dilution of our values.

At school when I was little we all spoke the same language, looked alike, and carried coordinating Tann’s backpacks. Everyone knew everyone else—there are probably more people living on 22nd Street between Park and Lexington than lived in my entire village—just as everyone had known my parents and my grandparents. Our lives were practically mapped out for us before they had even started.

First, I want to say thank you to those who wrote to wish me a happy birthday (after the very subtle announcement in my last letter). Please excuse the blanket thank you. I was genuinely touched by each and every message, it’s just that I didn’t have enough time between my seven meals a day while I was in France to reply individually and then I was swamped by mask-mandate-related meetings and correspondence the minute school started back!

Today marks the end of what has been an intense moment in the school year. The Omicron wave definitely made its mark. It has affected several of our students who, although spared serious illness, had to miss quite a few days of school, and it affected a number of our colleagues more severely. Our staff continues to feel the effects of Omicron; we haven’t had a “full house” since before the winter break.

During the months of January and December, we invited parents of The École to answer a satisfaction survey. I would like to take the time today to thank all of you who responded. I must confess that personally, I tend to drag my heels when it comes to answering surveys. However, these semesterly satisfaction surveys are invaluable as they give us the opportunity to get formal feedback from you, to measure the progress we are making, and take note of the improvements we have yet to make.