With the school year underway, it’s hard to miss the light coming from every direction. Our classrooms are gleaming with work and aspiration, our staff is united and inspired, many of you have signed up as parent volunteers and most have attended a number of Jarrow events this month. What joy, as we link traditions of our past with the future, and the many new connections being made right now. Speaking of the past, I recently learned that astronaut Neil Armstrong was one of Jarrow’s beloved friends and relations. Years ago, my mother’s department hosted him at the University of Nebraska and I had the privilege of being introduced. It was 1969 when Mr. Armstrong boarded Apollo 11 and headed for the moon.
“I am walking on light,” is what he said from way out there. He later added, “I think as people, we’ve set our expectations way too low.” Those words have been a guiding force for me since then.
Again and again, I’ve wondered what would happen if our expectations were re-calibrated – with a more consistent reach for the stars for our children and ourselves. I wonder if the light would change. My guess is it would only brighten with increased dimension and nuance, and we’d be part of it.
This is the Jarrow invitation this year. We invite you to join us in high expectation and greater insistence on goodness and light. We invite you to attend more parent events, get more involved, serve on committees and embrace our celebrations. We invite you to dive deeper into Montessori pedagogy and the many reasons for this unique and abiding approach to education. We implore you to regularly check in on our website, read our letters, follow us on Instagram, participate in the Annual Fund and meet us on the high road every single day. Working in partnership with you to serve your children is our privilege and our greatest work.
Recently our Room Parents held their first meeting and below is a copy of their covenant commitment to Jarrow as parent leaders. Please review these words, as they represent the values, the commitment and the light your school leadership desires to hold with all Jarrow parents.
Our covenant and commitment together: As Room Parents, we work to support the needs of the classrooms as requested by the teachers. We understand that while lending support, we will also receive support as we work in close partnership with school administration. As leaders in the Jarrow community, we understand that the weight of our words and actions serves as an example or inspiration for the life of our school. At all times we will strive to hold our school community in the highest regard; and when questions or concerns arise, we will make every effort to gather and disseminate information that is true and clear. We will ask for help when needed and encourage Jarrow parents to participate in Parent Education and Jarrow community events. It is our aspiration to have fun, to enjoy one another’s company and to hold dearly our highest purpose, which is to protect and create a principled and joyous school for our children and our families.
In Gratitude,
Mary Zeman, Interim Head of School
Mercedes Dugan, Associate Head of School
on behalf of our Staff and Administration