Is it really true that we are about to bring another year to a close? Over the past several weeks we have had many opportunities to enjoy the accomplishments of our students. Our arts nights, concerts, and awards assemblies have provided us with great joy and satisfaction. We have a fantastic student body and are grateful for the opportunity to work with them.

As I have observed these events I have found myself reflecting on the maturation of our students over time, and I will do it constantly until the year comes to a close. I think about each of the seniors, their time here, and their growth during that period. They have been at Shipley anywhere from two to fourteen years and have blossomed into accomplished students and people. In fact, we actually have one senior who was in our very first Pre-K. While I will enjoy handing him and other seniors their diplomas, I will miss them.

When I think about these events, I am reminded that our wonderful celebrations are but a snapshot of a moment and are a part of a process that got our students to where they are. At one of our piano recitals a few weeks ago, I saw students who had worked hard, grown tremendously, and were accomplishing a great deal in playing in the recital. For all of them, the fear of failing, which accompanies every endeavor one takes on, was real. Yet, their teacher had done a masterful job preparing them for the event and had reminded them regularly that they are not machines. Her belief in them and understanding that music (along with other aspects of life) is not necessarily about perfection but about joy, were both visible. It did not surprise me that the students—beginners and more advanced pianists—performed well and enjoyed themselves.

It was particularly rewarding to see the development of children who had been playing with this teacher for years. While their improvement as pianists was clear, it was really the growth in their presentation and confidence that was most evident and most important. Students who had at some point in the past felt frustration and disappointment in their recital performances performed at a whole new level. This reflects the ability, determination, and commitment of the students, but also the consistency, hard work, and belief of the teacher. They believed in her, and she believed in them!

Of course, their growth on the piano is, for many, representative of their growth in other areas of life; the lessons they learn at the keyboard are transferable. As we think about how to maximize growth and development, it is essential for us as educators, parents/guardians, and friends to deliver the same message as consistently as possible, even if our students and children do not appear to understand it at any given time. We need to set our expectations high, be patient and affirming, and believe in our kids. If we do, they will learn to deal with both success and disappointment. They will apply themselves, as so many of our seniors have; they will become resilient and accomplish great things. This will better enable them to meet the challenges that they will face in college and in life. And no matter how hard we work at it, it is a never-ending process.

On the institutional level, many of the same rules for growth apply: high expectations, patience, affirmation, belief in the School, and a drive always to do things better. This spring we have a snapshot of ourselves similar to those that we have for our students—the results of the surveys of parents/guardians, faculty and staff, and students that we undertook last winter. Kevin Graham of Lookout Management, Inc. presented the findings to those who were able to attend our last Heads’ Forum of the year. I will send you a summary of the findings shortly. The report card is quite good, but it leaves us plenty of room to get better.
 
So, as we celebrate the wonderful accomplishments of the year, we acknowledge that they are just another step in the process of our children’s and our own growth. Although most of our students will not be in school over the summer, they do not stop growing, mentally, as well as physically. Regardless of what they or we do, the process will continue, and they will return to school in September having developed in every possible way.

As I contemplate my own summer, I look forward to spending time with my family and following the involvement of people in the community in their activities. One program that some people associated with the School have a special interest in is the Fresh Air Fund, in which local families invite children from underserved neighborhoods in New York City to be part of their families and to live with them for a period during the summer. In addition to those who host the kids, others provide swimming lessons, academic tutoring, hikes, art lessons, and other programs to enhance the experiences of those who are visiting. Often families have the same children with them for many summers. Along the way, the program facilitates relationships that directly contribute to the growth and development of everyone associated with it. I applaud those who are involved in the Fresh Air Fund and look forward to having the students from New York visit our campus this summer. If you are interested in learning more about the program, visit the website at http://www.freshair.org/. The local coordinator is Julia Gould, who is a Shipley parent. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact her.

Regardless of what you do over the summer, I hope it is enjoyable and revitalizing. Thank you for lending your children to us. I look forward to seeing you in September.

Warmest regards,

Steven S. Piltch
Head of School