Dear Middle School Parents,

This summer has been moving rather quickly, and I am keenly aware that many of us would like the weeks and the days to slow down before the start of the new school year. 

As I anticipate the upcoming school year, I think also about the potential for another good year with our middle school students. I know that so many of them have grown physically over the summer. Some of our students will have discovered a new voice, both literally and figuratively. Some may still be a bit reticent about a new school year. I also know that many of our students are ready for new leadership roles in the division. These leaders will be positive influences for each of us, and I expect them to be good partners as we highlight the Quaker testimonies of peace and community. These testimonies remind us that each life is precious and unique, and that we care for each other.

At GFS we are asked to reflect upon our personal interactions with one another and the world. We are guided to consider non-violence as the only way to solve problems. We are encouraged to think about creating a caring, interdependent community. Naturally, we focus on the community most proximal to us, but we are also reminded to think outside of our immediate circles. This summer’s newspaper headlines are excellent reminders that there is still much work to be done by using the testimonies of peace and community.

I think that our middle school students are ready to explore these themes and I believe they are capable of synthesizing this information in meaningful ways. It is my hope that our emerging student leaders will guide our interactions with one another as we explore the testimonies of peace and community. I anticipate faculty and student dialogue that promotes empathy for others. I want our students to be self-aware of their understanding and growth with this important work. Throughout the year we will use queries that will foster self-reflection and understanding. I encourage students and parents to use these queries for discussion.

The work that we will undertake as a community this year will serve as a foundation for students as they strive to understand themselves and their place in the wider world. Through this work, I hope students will discover their emerging voices and share them with friends in their immediate circles and beyond.

I am excited about the upcoming school year and eagerly look forward to seeing you in the last few days of August and early September. Please enjoy the remaining days of summer, and it is my hope that those days are wonderful and rewarding.

Ken Aldridge
Middle School Principal