Growing IDEAs: The Promise of the Year Ahead

"You can get excited about the future. The past won't mind."

?~Hillary DePiano, playwright and author

?"Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable."

?~Mary Oliver, poet

?______________________________________

?A certain joy accompanies the beginning of a school year. The promise of a new beginning. The promise of learning. The promise of progress. The promise of growth and ideas.

At Currey Ingram, the promise takes on extra weight because the beginning of the school year for many students and parents often comes with the promise of apprehension, concern, worry, and stress. There’s no snap of the fingers or wave of the wand to make the apprehension go away, but Currey Ingram will do everything in our power to uphold the promise.

Every year we establish a theme that we think best represents the year ahead. Landing on a theme for this year was relatively easy. It’s going to be a very forward-thinking and strategically focused year. Hence, the theme Growing IDEAs.

Additionally, the theme is not really a stretch for Currey Ingram, considering how forward-thinking we have been throughout our 55-year history as a school. It’s in our cultural DNA. This year, we will ramp up and leverage our well-established strategic predisposition. With both our re-accreditation and a new strategic plan on the docket, I expect hundreds of hours of conversations and valuable input across all constituencies in our community as we write our next chapters.

We are growing quite literally, as well. With enrollment expected to exceed 400 students for the first time in our history, we could not be more excited about our students' increased academic, extracurricular, and social opportunities, not?to mention the financial sustainability that comes with increased enrollment.??1Increased financial sustainability means that every person, division, and department is more likely to be able to do what they need to do for our students. It also means that financial aid can be more robust, providing more support for more families.??

We also will continue to be very mindful of our security protocols and processes.?This document, sent to parents in the spring of last year, highlights established processes and recent steps. Of note, the entire staff went through a day-long intensive training session given by Defend Systems. The same company helped train The Covenant School staff, who were highly praised for their response during their tragic situation.

Yesterday we launched the school year with a welcome social event for our new parents. For the event, I asked a small number of current and former parents to speak about their Currey Ingram journey. After all, who better to speak to the promise than someone who has lived the promise??

The veteran parents conveyed to the new parents, yes, we were exactly where you are now: apprehensive, uncertain, and concerned. But they also bolstered hope in the new parents by saying…believe it or not…

Your children will soon want to go to school (or at least not actively resist). Your children will have friends. Your children will do their homework. Your children will join a program or club you’d never thought they’d join. Your children will achieve their potential. Your children will become advocates. And, as the tears ran down many of the faces, it was easier to believe, it will be okay.?

There is great promise in the year ahead!