JUNE 2019
WLP PARENT NEWSLETTER

 
“But the wild things cried, “Oh please don’t go - we’ll eat you up - we love you so!”
And Max said, “No!”
The wild things roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws but Max stepped into his private boat and waved goodbye.” 
― Maurice Sendak
 
            I cannot count the number of times I have read Where the Wild Things Are to a child. I cannot begin to count how many children have touched my life over the years. With time and experience, practicing goodbyes and farewells becomes more familiar, but never loses its sting. It is particularly difficult for our WLP children to transition away from this safe place where they have known respect, consistency and acceptance. We often see our children fall apart during the last few weeks of school, and while that is typical everywhere, our children do it as they do everything, with more intensity. This year I experience it with a new perspective, as I traverse my own life-changing transition at the same time. I am excited for the new challenges our fledglings will experience as they leave us and go out into the world. We hope we have helped them develop some of the lagging skills that brought them to us in the first place. We hope we have provided families with effective resources to help them support their children and themselves during these changes and challenges.
            If you hear your child talk about the goodbye calendar at school – it is an annual tool used to help make concrete the time left before summer break and approaching transitions begin. It is a way to spark conversations about future plans and the feelings which accompany the process.
            The end of school year picnic lunch is Friday, June 14 from 11:30 – 1:00. Siblings and extended family are welcome, but please RSVP numbers by Friday June 7.
           
Thank you to the children who taught me how to help them.
Thank you to the families who let me in and gave me the gift of trust where it mattered most.
Thank you to my staff, who laugh at my jokes – even the lame ones – and who have become the most caring, professional and gifted team of individuals with whom I’ve had the pleasure to work.
 
As I look back on this decade plus at Walnut Lake, I feel pride in the choices I’ve made and the work I’ve done. I am proud to have helped shape a school that strives to do what is right and best for children, that celebrates diversity, that respects the individuality, creativity and feelings of the child, one that holds fast to integrity and purpose.
 
I wish the school and you, only the best.
Seek and choose joy where you can.
 
Take care,
Cathy