Partnering Together for Student Growth

I like to take any moment I can to celebrate one of the most essential keys to our students’ success: the partnership between parents/caregivers and teachers. Our students spend the majority of their waking hours in our care, and between home and school, we shape lives and learning—an extraordinary responsibility we share together. You model and teach at home, and you entrust us with your most precious gift. We honor that trust by investing deeply in your child’s growth and evolution. Just as you do, we think in terms of the long game: welcoming children in kindergarten, sixth grade, or another year,  meeting them as they are today, and preparing them for who they will become when they step confidently into high school.

Keeping that broader horizon in mind is vital because who your child is now is not who they will be when they graduate. It’s a journey, and an imperfect one. The imperfection is what makes the experience a masterpiece. I sought sage advice from those who know this journey best: our middle schoolers. Fifth-graders wanted you to know, “If your kid doesn’t get something, don’t freak out. It’s normal,” and “Try not to be too overprotective. Let your kids try new things. It’ll be ok.” All too often, we want our children to be great problem solvers, but we hesitate to let them encounter real problems. We bubble wrap, shield, and bulldoze for them when the juice of learning lies in the very challenges they face. A muscle won’t grow without resistance; learning is no different. Stepping back can be uncomfortable for parent and student, but it is often where the deepest learning lies. One sixth-grader reminded us, “The teachers have got this. They know what they’re doing. It’s not their first rodeo.”

Part of this partnership is holding high expectations—expectations that inspire children to stretch and grow—while also keeping those expectations human and realistic. High expectations communicate our belief in their potential; impossible expectations, however, communicate that who they are right now is never enough. Children thrive when they sense that both their effort and their humanity are valued. When home and school align on this balance—challenging, but not crushing; ambitious, but not perfectionistic—we help students build not just skills, but also resilience, confidence, and joy in learning.

When I asked our eighth graders for advice to families, they said, “Let your kids choose their own paths. Don’t direct or push them too much,” and, “Let them play. Let them enjoy. Let them be.” Their words remind us that childhood is not a résumé; it is a season of growth, discovery, and wonder. As Mr. Purcell put it at Middle School Back-to-School Night, we must resist the urge to “professionalize childhood.” Childhood is not about accumulating activities or curating a laundry list of extracurriculars—it’s about exploring passions, trying things on for size, and discovering who you are. A to-do list of accomplishments may look impressive, but it doesn’t guarantee meaning or self-worth. What shapes a child is not the résumé they build, but the joy, curiosity, and confidence they cultivate along the way.

And in the midst of all this growing, don’t forget to savor the journey. As some wise sixth graders reminded us: “Make friends. Have fun. Be yourself. Cherish every moment and enjoy this time, too.” And then came the classic eighth-grade one-liner: “Yeah, savor these memories because your kid is going to become an angsty teen.” Out of the mouths of middle schoolers! And they’re right—this season is fleeting. The good news is you don’t walk it alone. The families sitting beside you at concerts, on the sidelines, or in the carpool line are fellow travelers—partners on your child’s growth path. It really does take a village, and within this community, you will find not just support but genuine friendship that endures long after Keys.

As we move forward together this year, remember we’re playing the long game with both patience and hope—balancing high expectations with gentle grace, and treasuring the gift of raising and teaching children in partnership. Parents, caregivers, and teachers are teammates on this journey, cheering each other on through the triumphs and the messiness. And while the road ahead may include angsty teens, eye rolls, and more than a few “You just don’t get it” moments, it will also be filled with growth, connection, laughter, and milestones worth savoring. In the end, every child’s journey is shaped by the steady message, spoken in both word and action from all of us: I couldn’t have done it without your belief in me.

Cheers to the long game! Cheers to our partnership! Cheers to a great year!

Warmly,

Heather