September 22, 2017

Dear Rowland Hall Families,

When we use the phrase community of learners to describe our school, we truly mean it. We strive to offer adults at Rowland Hall—teachers, administrators, trustees, and parents and guardians—opportunities for growth and development, just as we do for our students. Rowland Hall parents and guardians are our partners in education, and the more tools we can give adults to help their children, the better the outcome for all of us.

Over the past few years, we’ve increased the number of forums, meetings, and presentations designed to provide parents and guardians timely information about what’s going on at school as well as helpful strategies to use at home. The goal is not merely to deliver a message, but rather to engage adults in what we hope will be an ongoing conversation about student success. For example, last year we were fortunate to have author and educator Jessica Lahey speak to our community about her book The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed. Those in attendance learned about how to encourage children to be intrinsically motivated, so they enjoy learning, and how everyone can grow from embracing productive struggles.

This year we have several different types of events which adults can attend, from topic-focused presentations to open discussion groups, all with the aim of strengthening our community and embracing the growth mindset. Some fall highlights are:

• Tuesday, September 26 – Screening of Angst at 7 pm in the Larimer Center. This film about anxiety in children will be followed by a panel discussion with Upper School students, Nick Tsandes, LCSW, and Katie Lieberman, LCSW and board member.
• Monday, October 2 – Parent Forum on School Finances, Tuition, and Salaries at 8:30 am in the McCarthey parlor. Join Head of School Alan Sparrow and Board Finance Chair Saba Siddiqui for this session focused on the school’s budget and tuition-setting process.
• Tuesday, October 17 – Nutrition and Wellness for Families at 8:30 am in the McCarthey dining hall. Fellow Rowland Hall parent Sinead Urwin will present information and guidance on best practices for keeping your family healthy.

We also have several division-specific offerings, including the popular McCarthey Parenting Classes with Carol Blackwell, ongoing coffee chats with principals, and a new Upper School discussion group called “The Buzz,” which will have its first meeting at the Lincoln Street library on November 14 at 8:30 am. A calendar of currently scheduled parent education events is also available on the parent involvement page of our school website.

Having a diverse, stimulating slate of educational opportunities for our parents and guardians is a priority for Rowland Hall and one that sets us apart from other schools. I personally encourage you to attend as many educational events as you can this year, and please give us feedback on what was most valuable to you. We’re all here to learn and grow together.

Sincerely,

Alan Sparrow