HEAD OF SCHOOL’S MESSAGE

Dear Woods Community,

I hope this edition of The Woods Academy News finds you well. To say this has “been a year” is an understatement. Our world was turned upside down by the pandemic. I hope and pray that all of our families are safe and emerging from the pandemic with a spirit of joy and gratitude for what all our healthcare workers have done to keep us safe. Personally speaking, I have never been more grateful to be part of this great Woods community. It was our community of teachers, students, and parents that rallied to make this past year work. A herculean task by our teachers was met with support from our parents and joy by our students. It is strange to think how a community can come together when we are required to be physically distant. As I reflected throughout the year, it began to hit me that while distant we were becoming closer. For me, I was lucky. I was able to connect with all of our students and families at morning and afternoon carpool. What initially felt like the dreaded job of taking temperatures and performing health checks quickly turned into an opportunity to connect with our people and build community. Short conversations and interactions dayafter-day lead to relationships. Our teachers did it through a camera and in-person so well. Getting to know our kids, even with masks and distanced, was what set us apart during this time. It has always been what sets us apart. At The Woods, it is personal. We learned that a pandemic cannot stop us from learning. It cannot stop us from growing. It cannot stop us from building relationships. Getting back to doing this in a more regular way is what we all want, but when faced with a challenge, this community rose to the occasion. The evidence was in the joy our kids expressed each day. Whether it was getting out of the car, being in class with their peers, or some one-on-one time with a teacher, our kids’ smiles came through the masks. Our teachers created that environment. One that set the expectation of learning, but did so with a spirit of joy that no matter how we are connecting we are going to make this work. As we move through a summer with the pandemic still present, I hope and pray you all have time to reflect and appreciate the silver linings that have come from this time of isolation and turmoil. It has no doubt produced some dark days, but if you take some time and look hard enough, you will find the light. There were plenty of hard days for me, but I found that light in our community. It was right in front of me. I just had to open my eyes more fully. Peace,

Joseph Powers Head of School