A few days ago, a teacher and I had a quick chat on the playground. She mentioned that one of our graduating 8th graders had recently sought her out to share with her that she had been accepted at her top-choice high school. She wanted to thank this teacher for all she had done to support her when she had been struggling a bit in Lower School. More than five years later, she remembered the care and attention this adult had shown to her, and she wanted her to know that it had made a difference in helping her reach her goals.
A few days earlier during morning drop-off, a parent rolled down the passenger-side window as they approached the spot where I was standing. As I leaned in to greet them, I realized they had dropped their children off already. “Hey, Mark. I just wanted to thank you and your entire team for everything you have done this year. I know that all of you probably don’t hear that enough, but I want you to know that all of the families I have been talking to continue to share how grateful they are for all the school has done to support our children and us through this year.”
And, around the same time, I happened to connect with an alumni parent who has two children now in college. She could not say enough about the transformative impact that Hillbrook had on her children, pointing to how both of them are pursuing interests – one in biological sciences, the other in theater tech – that emerged during their time at the school. She named the impact of several teachers, crediting them with shaping the pathways upon which her children had been launched.
It seems that with the arrival of May and with the end of the school year fast approaching, appreciation and gratitude are in the air. As a school, we have long recognized the importance of creating time and space for people to pause and reflect on the many things in our lives for which we are grateful. Indeed, for the past few years, we have declared May is “Gratitude Month” at Hillbrook, encouraging all of us to pay particular attention to those who have helped to make our lives better.
This year, more than ever, we want to take time to recognize the extraordinary work of our teachers and staff. As Jamie Piazza so beautifully sang in the video shared during the Benefit,
525,600 minutes
525,600 face masks so hot
525,600 reasons
How do we thank you for the school year we got?
Since the onset of the pandemic a year ago, our teachers and staff have endured endless unexpected challenges, starting with our sudden pivot to distance learning and through the ups and downs of the year that followed. We were one of the first schools to open for in-person learning in September, while still providing a distance learning option for children and families. It has been, to put it mildly, the most complicated, challenging, and emotionally exhausting year that educators have experienced in their careers. And yet our teachers and staff have continued to show up day after day, ready to support the children and families in our community. I am profoundly grateful, and I know that all of our families share their appreciation for our employees’ resilience, flexibility, good humor, commitment, and love.
So how DO we thank them for the school year we have had?
STUCO led the way this past week with their first-ever Appreciation Week. The week began with a special “hot seat” at Flag, where students heard from members of our maintenance team and got a behind-the-scenes insight into the important people that keep Hillbrook up and running day after day. STUCO also organized gratitude note-writing for adults in our community, as well as activities to show appreciation for their peers and for the Earth.
We will be sharing other ways that you can show your appreciation in the weeks ahead, and I hope you will participate in those opportunities. More than anything, I hope that you will take a moment to talk with your children about the importance of gratitude, and help them think about who they might thank in their lives. It doesn’t have to be complicated, and it doesn’t have to take long. After more than 525,600 minutes living through a global pandemic, a simple, heartfelt and genuine “thank you” means more than ever.
Warmly,
Mark Silver, Head of School