News

Dear Families,

It was wonderful to see so many of you at last week’s Opening Night. What a great way to kick off our 60th year! For those who could not make it, I wanted to share part of my talk with you regarding our community’s theme of dignity for this year.

This past summer, our staff, faculty, and board members all read at least one of the two books on dignity written by Donna Hicks, Ph.D. Hicks is the author of Leading with Dignity: How to Create a Culture That Brings Out the Best in People and Dignity: It’s Essential Role in Resolving Conflict. Dignity is defined as our inherent value. We are born with dignity, so it does not have to be earned.

As part of this work, we are reflecting on how we maintain our own dignity as well as protect the dignity of others; we are taking stock of our relationships and revisiting past dignity violations where needed, as well as working to resolve new ones that we encounter. This work is deeply connected to the ongoing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts of this community. Forward movement in those areas is not possible without understanding and honoring dignity. 

I invite all of you to participate in this work alongside us by reading one of her books. For now, let me give you three elements of dignity to consider:

Accept the identity of others. Approach people as neither inferior nor superior to you. Give others the freedom to express their authentic selves.

Give people the benefit of the doubt. Most of us are doing the best we can as often as we can. When you operate from an assumption of positive intent, you tend to view the actions of others more favorably. 

Ask questions that help you understand rather than rushing to judgment. For example, consider who might best be able to help you understand a decision made by the school. Is it the parents in your child’s classroom via What’s App? Or is it better to ask the Teacher, Division Head, or Head of School? If your child comes home and tells you about something that happened at school that feels concerning, how can you keep in mind that there might be another side to the story and approach the concern with the Teacher in a way that helps you find out more? Sometimes it may be as simple as, “I heard this from my child; can you tell me more?”

Building a culture of respect and dignity is a community effort. It is not easy or quick, but if we stay with it, I believe it will be hugely rewarding for us as individuals and as a community. I hope you will join us!

With appreciation,

Elizabeth Lener
Head of School