Dear East Woods Parents,
I am a great believer in bridges. Among much ingenuity, bridges have allowed for civilizations to connect with each other. They have helped dentists fill the gaps of missing teeth and bungee jumpers satiate their thirst for adrenaline. Bridges have also offered artists the inspiration to dream of such sites as the Golden Gate fogged over at sunset. Such value! While we all would all struggle to be without such necessary and beautiful things, I however, am most interested in the types of bridges that cannot be seen. These invisible bridges are of a type that is built by individuals to connect themselves to others. Their import lies largely in experiences that nurture growth; growth as a student of oneself, and a student of the world. For me, these types of bridges are the very best bridges around.
I love that East Woods School endeavors to build these types of bridges with our students. Through comprehensive assessments and the differentiating instruction that takes place in our classrooms, each child is at the very center of the school’s mission and work. Each child has an opportunity to connect to our exciting curriculum, as well as feel an important and valued member of our community.
The bridges we build are not only limited to our students, however. Our work with parents also involves the construction of these bridges. I am so impressed by the level of parental involvement with the school, whether it is providing critical information about their child, hosting community events like class parties, or partnering with teachers and administrators to construct the best possible plan that can support their child. It is clear to me that East Woods School is aware that earning parents’ support will make all the difference in the success of the work we are able to complete on behalf of the children.
Finally, building bridges to the community is another important focus of ours. Our classes engage in service learning projects aimed at making the world a better place for those around us. We also visit many cultural and historical landmarks in the area, with the goal of learning about where we come from and where we are going.
Having now met our wonderful families and talented faculty and staff, I can comment on how lucky I am to be working with such a tremendous group of people. We will journey together across some of the very best bridges in history! And I am avidly looking forward to the ride.
Matthew J. Aborn
Head of Lower School