Dear Parents and Caregivers,
As the school year winds down, it’s only natural to think back on everything that’s happened. Sometimes, our thoughts go straight to the things we didn’t get to or moments we wish had gone differently. But just as important, maybe even more so, is remembering all that did happen: the learning, the laughter, the challenges we worked through, and the growth we saw in our children and in ourselves. Taking time to reflect helps us appreciate how far we’ve come and gives us space to start dreaming about what comes next.
Captured Learning
- Little Jags are wrapping up the year by exploring life cycles. They’ve been busy finding worms, creating habitats, and caring for baby chicks while learning facts and practicing their caretaking skills along the way.
- Prekindergarteners are gearing up for their PreK Play this Friday! This is their first chance to perform in our official performing arts space, and they’re ready to shine. Join us at 8:30 a.m. in the BPAC for their special show!
- Kindergarteners are putting the finishing touches on their passion projects. Their Passion Project Fair is coming up on May 27, and even if you don’t have a kindergartener, feel free to stop by and check out the wide range of topics they’ve explored!
- First graders are reading up a storm! They’re working together to read MANY books and earn a virtual field trip with their classmates. Be sure to ask them where they’re headed!
- Second graders are finishing up their states study and getting ready to share their learning with families. Their final projects include an advertisement and persuasive writing to promote tourism to their states.
- Third grade is wrapping up their shared novel study of “Because of Winn-Dixie" with storyboards and a fun celebration featuring pickles and “dump punch.” They’re also tackling one of their most challenging math chapters of the year – composite figures.
- Fourth graders are putting the final touches on their food truck projects. They’ve created truck names, slogans, logos, menus, and even priced out items using volume math. It’s a delicious end to their economics unit.
Early Childhood Culmination Morning and Lower School Culmination Morning
Please do not forget to join your children for the special events below. Please note that parking can be tight on these mornings, and you may use the visitor parking lot or the student/faculty lot. If you use the student/faculty lot, then you will enter through the doors by the Sokol Store.
- Early Childhood Culmination Morning will begin at 8:30 a.m. (sharp!) in the BPAC on May 21. Your child will head to their classroom, and you will head to the BPAC, where the early childhood students will demonstrate an early childhood town meeting and then head to their classrooms to show off their learning portfolios. This event will be over by 9:15 a.m.
- Lower School Culmination Morning will be on May 23, beginning at 8 a.m. This will be an open house format, and your child will be your tour guide. We will wrap up the culmination morning at 8:30 a.m. so the children may begin their day of learning.
Field Day: May 27
Field Day is almost here! It will be a dress down day full of fun and excitement. We’ll kick things off after lunch with our Inaugural Inflatable Invitational, where some brave volunteer teachers will launch the field day events with a hilarious inflatable race. From there, students will rotate through bounce houses, cool off with a shaved ice treat, and take part in team-building games alongside their classmates. It's a day of play, laughter, and community we can’t wait to share!
Fourth Grade Moving Up: May 29
Our fourth graders will be celebrated as they prepare to take their next big step into middle school during a special Moving Up program on Wednesday, May 29. With help from their kindergarten buddies, we’ll take time to honor all the ways our fourth graders have led the lower school and to cheer them on as they look ahead. A short reception will follow in the Thomas Family Dining Room.
Last Day of School: May 29
May 29 is the last day of school for our ECLS students, with dismissal at 11 a.m. There is no aftercare, and ALL children will be dismissed through car line. Please be patient as we dismiss over 300 students that morning. Dismissal for families with ECLS students and middle schoolers will take place after their Moving Up program. In years past, this has run a bit behind schedule. To help keep the final car line flowing smoothly, we ask that you pick up your ECLS student first, then wait in the back parking lot for your middle schooler to be released.
Support The Wellington Fund and Bring the Kindergarten of the Future to Life
We invite you to support The Wellington Fund through a gift toward the renovation of the Rick O’Hara Room (ROHR) into a purpose-built home for kindergarten. A transformative $500,000 gift from Board Chair Jim Croft P ’17 ’20 ’22 and his wife Michelle P ’17 ’20 ’22 allows the project to move forward immediately—creating an environment where the school’s youngest learners can thrive and supporting future building updates identified in the soon-to-be-shared strategic plan. Learn more and join the Crofts in support of this vital project.
As Brené Brown shared, “Joy comes to us in ordinary moments. We risk missing out when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary.” Let’s commit to finding those joyful, ordinary moments amidst these bigger, closer moments in these last ten days together.
Best,
Shelley Brown
Head of Early Childhood and Lower School