Learning and Growing: Envisioning the Next Chapter for Marylhurst
Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself - John Dewey
Dear Marylhurst Families,
I am thrilled to connect with all of you and offer a glimpse into what I’ve been learning in my first 8 months as Head of School and the exciting path I envision for us in the next one to three years. This year has been incredible in so many respects, and I have quickly developed a profound love and respect for our community.
Our students' creativity, inquisitiveness, and empathy, coupled with the faculty's deep skill, thoughtfulness, and ingenuity, create a unique and rich environment for progressive, experiential, and purposeful learning. When coupled with the care, commitment, and kindness of our staff, as well as the passion and dedication of our families, we are a community capable of mighty things. These qualities are catalysts, revealing what is possible and empowering us to transform possibilities into reality.
I want to take a moment to reflect on our achievements thus far this year and articulate my vision for the next one to three years. Despite being only in February, we've accomplished much, such as installing new flooring in classrooms, implementing energy-efficient LED lights throughout our buildings, expanding classroom spaces, and embarking on sound abatement for the gym. Our Winter Celebration event, the shift to Oregon City for the preschool program, and the initiation of a Community Learning Event series are just a few examples of ways we are reconnecting and learning together as a community. Perhaps one of the most joyful representations of this is the recent school dance organized and overseen by the Parent Association.
Programmatically, faculty and staff have identified progressive education tenets and principles that ground and guide our practice and policies. We’ve launched a teacher professional development program, implemented a curriculum review process, and revamped our community communication strategy for clarity and consistency. All of these accomplishments are the result of the generous contributions of time and talent from our families, the unwavering dedication to the craft of our teachers and staff, and the wise guidance of our Board.
Everything we do centers around nurturing deep, meaningful, and joyful learning for children that positions them as explorers, creators, and citizens. This is done through developmentally appropriate, multidisciplinary projects that connect with the real world. Recognizing the harmony between curriculum and environment as essential to that effort, our focus for the next three years will be on enriching these aspects of your children’s educational journeys with us.
In the upcoming year, commencing this summer, we aim to:
Establish practice-based, immersive Music and Spanish programs
Initiate phase 1 of a dedicated arts space, including a new kiln
Renovate Building 3 (current Meadowlarks building) to house our preschool and Pre-K classrooms
Move the preschool program to the Oregon City campus
Complete the Trillium building renovation for community gatherings
Replace the roof on Building 1 (current Owls and Ravens building)
Implement next phase of campus tree maintenance
Finalize plans for expanding outdoor space for the middle school
Identify a more flexible and accessible bussing system for families, including carpool options
Plan and develop an outdoor space for families to gather after school
Update our campus safety plan
Establish an endowed scholarship fund
Over the next two to three years, our aspirations include:
Initiating phase 2 of the dedicated arts space, including a music room
Renovating Building 1 (current Owls and Ravens building) to increase classroom space
Reconceptualizing some lower level rooms of the Lodge into additional comfortable classroom space for the middle school
Establishing an endowed fund for teacher professional development
Launching a new transportation plan
Building expanded outdoor space for the middle school
Designing and building a trail system and field that can support PE, experiential learning, and an after school sports program
Increased parking that is in tune with our environment
Marylhurst is in the beginning stages of an exhilarating period of growth. It truly feels like we are coming out of the fog and uncertainty of COVID, recommitting to who we are, and realizing the incredible opportunity that the Oregon City campus affords. While our goals are ambitious and require time, partnership, and funding, I am confident that with intentionality, we can turn these initiatives into reality.
It is an honor to be able to work with your children on a daily basis. Thank you for your support, your collaboration, and for your belief in what we do. I am excited for our work ahead and what it will bring for our students, teachers, and community.
Onward!
Leif
