Letter from Head of School

Dear Friends,

Late last spring, we concluded the school year in an unimaginable and unexpected way, with virtual instruction designed to meet the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the summer, we deployed extraordinary expertise, staff time, and financial resources to make the opening of school possible.

Every Norwood employee has been asked to step forward in new ways, to master new techniques and protocols, and to call forth the deepest levels of professional knowledge and personal commitment in the education and care of our students. I am so proud of the work—both virtual and in-person—that is taking place daily here at Norwood. We don’t know what the weeks and months ahead may bring; however, we do know that we will continue to harness the creativity, energy, and purpose that its founders envisioned when they began this remarkable school decades ago.

Nearly seventy years ago, a group of Washington, D.C.-area families saw a need for a new educational choice and took bold action. Starting in a church basement on the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Bradley Boulevard in Bethesda, Norwood School opened in 1952 as just a small kindergarten through second grade school, directed by Frances Marsh. Today, from its humble beginnings as Norwood Parish School and its early move to several locations, to the expansions that have ensued here in the “country” of Bethesda, Norwood has developed into one of the preeminent schools of its type in the independent school world. Outstanding faculty, engaged students, an excellent program, and a campus rich with potential have remained constants for Norwood School. We are fortunate that the School has experienced remarkable growth and development in each of these areas.

Outstanding Faculty

The bedrock of any school community is its teachers. Not surprisingly, in a recent National Association of Independent Schools survey, parents rated high-quality faculty and staff as the number-one priority for school excellence. Investing in the growth and development of faculty has been, and remains, a huge priority at Norwood—attracting the best and then allowing them to grow professionally.

Think about those Norwood School master teachers who have made and continue to make such a difference in children’s lives. Experienced faculty transfer their excitement and love for learning to the children, which results in an exemplary educational experience. After all, creating a vibrant and

enriched environment for learning is a fundamental purpose of Norwood School.

Engaged Students

While the actual shaking of hands has been put on hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, greeting our remarkable students at the front door each morning and watching them learn throughout the day is a great source of inspiration for me. Maybe it’s a kindergartner identifying the parts of a butterfly, a fourth grader unearthing fossils during the Big Dig, or a sixth grader presenting something of personal import in chapel—all of these snapshots add up to the wonderful array of learning opportunities that are specifically designed to challenge, inspire, and open minds and hearts. And that snapshot keeps changing as the School works hard to continually strengthen the program with new curricula (like the new Bridges math program added last year), technology (distance learning!), service learning opportunities, and extracurricular activities to thoroughly engage our talented and inquisitive students.

Educational Excellence

Since 1952, the Norwood School program has remained at the forefront of educational excellence. While the program has evolved and changed over time, what has remained constant is Norwood’s commitment to excellence in the basic intellectual skills and an acknowledgment that learning occurs beyond the schoolhouse walls.

In recent years, Norwood has focused on several enhancements to the overall school program. First, differentiation (or individualization) has transformed the way Norwood teachers impart knowledge. Our differentiated classrooms—both virtual and in person— provide students with multiple avenues to acquire content, to process and make sense of ideas, and to develop product such that each student can learn effectively. Second, Norwood’s focus on race, racial education, antiracism, and anti-bias work has become an important part of our school’s fabric. This work has permeated all areas of our school and aims to help all students grow into self-aware, confident, compassionate, and action-oriented citizens who will make the world a better place.

Exceptional Campus

Never have I been more grateful for our incredibly spacious and beautiful campus than during these last few months. Students are spread out in small learning cohorts in every part of the facility, and we are holding as many physically distanced outdoor classes as possible. Cohorts are enjoying nature walks, outdoor science experiments, and a plethora of other learning and play experiences all over our campus. One of my favorite campus views is right outside my office windows where I can watch our pre-K students enjoy the playground we installed when we launched the program in 2017.

It is amazing to look back and see how much our campus has grown since Norwood first opened the doors of the Steuart Building in January of 1972. The Marsh Building was added in 1975, the Murray Arts Building in 1982, and the Ewing Building in 1990. We acquired the Hyde property next door in 1995 and added the Middle School Building and Rales Athletic Center in 1999. Very soon, we can look forward to the start of construction of The Marriott Early Childhood Building that will serve as a learning hub for our students in grades PK-2. Whenever we celebrate the superb success Norwood School currently enjoys and the remarkable growth over nearly seventy years, I am quick to remind myself of Frances Marsh and those founding families, as well as the myriad of others who have passed through this school as it has evolved. Norwood School is filled with narratives, stories of great prosperity, as well as those of great trial. The challenges we face today as a school and as a nation will add unforgettable stories and images to the archives from which future generations will benefit as they carry Norwood forward.

Our school’s story is rich and ongoing, but one thing that stays constant is an unwavering commitment from parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and grandparents to making sure Norwood School is leading the charge for exemplary education. Thank you for upholding that commitment and for being an important part of the Norwood School story.

Yours sincerely,

Matthew A. Gould, Ph.D. Head of School