Building Community: Greater Than the Sum of Our Parts

"In every community, there is work to be done. In every heart, there is the power to do it.”?

~ Unknown

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Like many of the best ideas, the origin of Community Night was serendipitous. Four years ago a scheduling glitch saw a number of events (i.e., Spaghetti Supper, Movie Night, volleyball games) placed on the same Friday evening. Concern and even panic descended upon the admin team, after all we had not previously had that kind of evening presence on campus. But it ended up being fabulous. The campus was a beehive of joy. It was such a great evening, I decreed that we need to do that purposefully every year. Hence, Community Night was born.

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Schools are collections of people thrown together by the happenstance of geography, or in our case, mission. Although we share a strong belief in our mission, we are also a group of mostly? strangers uniting at 6544 Murray Lane on a regular basis. Families and staff come from all over Middle Tennessee, and in the case of Residential Life, all over the country. So, anything we can do to build community is a worthwhile endeavor.

The cultivation of a vibrant and inclusive community is paramount at Currey Ingram. Fostering a sense of belonging and interconnectedness among students, faculty, parents, and alumni is instrumental in realizing our mission. Building community sets the table for intellectual and moral growth, where students not only acquire academic knowledge but also engage in conversations and ethical reflections. Furthermore, building community nurtures the development of character, empathy, and social responsibility, instilling values that extend far beyond the classroom.

Building community also supports students who are searching for their “tribe.” Finding their "tribe" fulfills a fundamental human need for belonging and connection. In the often complex and diverse landscape of school, identifying a group of like-minded peers who share common interests, values, or aspirations provides a sense of identity and support. Community Night offers any of our "tribes" a safe space for self-expression and camaraderie.

A school with a strong community is greater than the sum of its parts. The intrinsic value of building community proves particularly profound for parents of students with learning differences. At Currey Ingram I see a tapestry interwoven with diverse threads, each representing a unique learner with specific needs and strengths. This transcends the mere aggregation of students, educators, and parents creating an environment where mutual support, understanding, and collaboration thrive. For Currey Ingram parents and students, community building is an indispensable source of solace and empowerment. With events like Community Night, parents and students find a network of advocates, fellow travelers on a similar journey, and educators who are not just instructors but dedicated partners in the pursuit of our students’ success.

The work of building community in a school is never done, but there is no doubt we have the heart to ensure we continue to be greater than the sum of our parts.