School News

Our Mission, Our Values, and Our Students

4/3/2025

Kim Ridley, Head of School

Welcome to April!

With the return of sunlight and longer days, we are invited into a quiet renewal—a moment to notice that even the subtlest seasonal shifts can carry powerful reminders: growth, clarity, and transformation are always within reach, even in uncertain times.

We are living in a moment of dizzying change. Across our country—and around the globe—communities are being reshaped at a pace that feels disorienting. Here in the U.S., political shifts and presidential executive orders are altering public life in ways that are unfamiliar, unsettling, and, in many cases, deeply concerning. While these policies may not directly impact Fayerweather operationally, they most certainly affect us as a community. Many of our families are impacted—through employment, livelihood, or a broader sense of emotional and psychological safety.

Much like the early days of the pandemic, we are once again charting unfamiliar terrain. There is no script, no clear roadmap. And with that, a familiar wave of emotion can rise—anxiety, fear, the pressure to have all the answers. I know I feel it. And yet, I also know this: we are the antidote.

We are not powerless in the face of these challenges. Each of us brings wisdom, perspective, and strength to this community. The real question is—how do we amplify that? How do we tap into our collective power, especially in moments that test us?

This is the heart of experiential learning—not just for students, but for all of us. We learn by doing, by trying, by stumbling forward, and by leaning on one another. During the pandemic, our strength came not from certainty, but from community. Parents and caregivers stepped in with ideas, expertise, and trust. Despite the fear and confusion, the overwhelming response was collaboration—not conflict. And that made all the difference.

Now, as debates about equity, inclusion, and belonging grow louder—and more politicized—it is essential that we root ourselves in purpose. At Fayerweather, our commitment to justice and humanity is not a mission statement on a wall—it’s a lived practice. It’s visible in our classrooms, in our curriculum, on our library shelves, and in the conversations our students have each day.

Yes, there is always room for reflection, growth, and continued learning. We balance many essential priorities—from building core competencies in reading, writing, and math, to supporting students with diverse learning profiles, to preparing them for the academic and social complexities of high school. We know that vital content and life lessons must be understood, questioned, internalized, and returned to again and again.

Our greater task is to develop a curriculum that offers students windows into experiences that differ from their own, and mirrors that reflect their identities positively and accurately. Our goal is for students to understand that humans are multidimensional and complex. The very cornerstone of excellent teaching and deep learning is our unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Academic success is not separate from these values—it is made stronger by them.

I’m proud of how we create space for connection—for parents and caregivers to find community in affinity groups, PCA gatherings, and conversations about identity and parenting. These spaces give us time to reflect on what it means to live and learn in a world that doesn’t always see or value every story.

Our curriculum is designed to be both challenging and developmentally responsive—meeting children where they are and helping them make sense of fairness, identity, conflict, and community. These lessons aren’t reactive or isolated. They’re scaffolded intentionally, deepened over time, and led by educators who hold these conversations with skill, nuance, and care.

Yes, the world is filled with injustice and uncertainty. But at Fayerweather, we believe our children can face it—not with despair, but with curiosity, courage, and compassion. That is the transformative power of education. It isn’t quick. It isn’t flashy. It’s the slow, steady work of building something enduring.

Every day, we see students discovering their voices, naming injustice, proposing solutions, and practicing what it means to belong to a real, sometimes messy, always meaningful community. They are learning to love themselves and others, and to act with purpose in a world that needs them.

But none of this work happens alone. It is made possible through partnership—with you. As parents and caregivers, you are your child’s first teachers. You model values. You shape character. And in collaboration with us, you help raise young people who will carry these lessons into the wider world.

So let’s return—again and again—to this shared purpose. Let’s continue the hard, beautiful, and necessary work of raising children who lead with empathy and make a difference. And let’s do so while modeling the art of working together—with grace, humility, forgiveness, and strength.

We can meet this moment—together—not with fear but with hope, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to one another.

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