I did a double-take a few weeks ago, as I walked by a few parents and children lingering in the front office in the middle of the afternoon, all cleaned-up and snazzily dressed in well-coordinated outfits. Why do they look so good? Had I forgotten about an event? A quick glance down toward the Village of Friendly Relations, however, and I was reminded why they were there. There, in the sweltering September heat, was photographer and parent Jessie Salas, enthusiastically and effortlessly guiding families through photo shoots as part of our annual Family Photo Project.
Given the heat on this particular day, families had wisely decided to use the office as a staging area, ensuring that everyone, including the youngest children, appeared fresh and enthusiastic in the photographs, not sweaty and cranky. Jessie and her team of parent volunteers – Tina Briceno, Kaylyn Lehmann and Vanetta Wiseman – were not quite so fortunate to escape the heat over the course of the afternoon, but it did not seem to phase them in the least. They happily welcomed, coordinated and photographed families, ensuring that everyone who participated left with a smile on their face.
The Family Photo Project was introduced to the school a few years ago, part of an HSPC effort to build community. While most people were initially drawn to the event for personal reasons, knowing they would end up with a high quality photo of their family, many people quickly recognized that the highlight of the event was actually the hanging of the photos in the Multi-purpose room. This year, Jessie provided a sneak peek with the following video that includes photos from the different shoots.
A tour of the photos provides a glimpse into the personalities of different families, as well as the extraordinary diversity of our community. Some families are color coordinated, while others adopt a more laissez-faire approach to outfits. Some children smile widely, while others are a bit more demur. Playful, pensive, slightly formal, or delightfully devious – the photos offer an enticing window into the personalities that make up our community. We even have an opportunity to meet some of the pets.
Watching the video – and thinking back on the many photos from previous years – I find myself reconnecting with why I think Hillbrook is such an extraordinary community. The photos offer reminders to me of what makes each person and family unique, a celebration of the individuality that enriches our community. At the same time, as I view the photos in their totality, I am struck by the extraordinary collective strength we possess as a group.
The past few weeks have been an intense moment for the school, with back-to-back Planning Commission meetings that have seen hundreds of Hillbrook parents, students, teachers, and staff come out to support our school. While the proceedings have been long and at times challenging, I have been inspired by the articulate, passionate, and respectful way in which our community has shared our application and our hopes for the future.
Last night, as I found myself starting to gear up for another round next week, I pulled up the Family Photo video and watched it again. The video recenters me and reminds me of why we are doing what we are doing. It’s about families and it’s about children. My family and I feel so privileged to be a part of this extraordinary community.