With fall promising its cool embrace in just a few weeks, we are excited about this time in our school's journey. With so many changes this year, we are all practicing our flexibility muscles and leaning into the "not knowing" space as we get to know our exciting new team and build strong systems that will be sustainable for decades to come.
Each day we gather with these remarkable children, we are reminded of how important this work is. From the child raised in a single-parent household with love and care to the child who came from a self-directed learning background and broke the reading code last year, our community is strong. We are so grateful that you all have joined us in some way on our journey.
An initiative we have been working on for years is finally coming to fruition as we step into our fifth year. With The Morgan Oliver School's unique mission, we realize we need to do more than create opportunities and provide language to children—we want to open our doors to parents and community members committed to the lifelong work of breaking cycles of oppression and racism. Self-work should be an integral component of what we do here, and this year, it will be. We will be launching a couple of new initiatives designed to create safe spaces for folks to explore their identities and heal with others who have shared lived experiences. I am endlessly grateful for experts like Jen Wilsea, Mick Rehrig, Sara Gregory Martinez, and Sheri Randolph. These dedicated community members will be spearheading these groups. Be on the lookout for more exciting details after we launch our initiative on Curriculum Night next week.
This year, we will invite you all to participate in our school in various ways. From sponsoring parent-led events such as Teacher Appreciation Week and Class Auctions to asking you to sponsor children in the Walkathon or come in and read to the kids! We're excited to explore new partnerships with local businesses and establishments like Brannon Towers, where kids will be paired up with "Wise Buddies" and meet monthly to play games, read books, and fellowship with our elderly neighbors.
Communities need people. We need each other. It can be so easy to say, "I'm not ready," or "Maybe tomorrow." What I urge and invite you all to do with us is to believe. Believe that we are all capable of so much more—as long as we continue to hold each other in compassion and grace and lean into the messy work of making the world a better place.
Sanidia Oliver-Stone
she/her/hers
Founder, Head of School
(404) 954-2524
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