Our objective, which we always will pursue, is to create an amiable environment, where children, families, and teachers feel at ease. . . at home. Loris Malaguzzi
Do nothing without meaning. To live is to find the meaning of life.
Carlina Rinaldi
It was a night long overdue and it was great to finally make the time to share our NSW History with you. An intimate group set the scene for a personal story. Tamra (Isaac EW) was there to audio tape the two plus hours and is asking for someone to edit. If that’s something you might be able to support happening, let me know and I’ll connect you with Tamra for details. Once edited, it is our hope to make room for the presentation on our Parent Portal. It has also been suggested that we make another evening for those who couldn’t attend or who want more. My hope is that this is the beginning of a series of gatherings that has us delving in more deeply into our shift to the Reggio approach to education as the teachers prepare (thanks to your support) for our Educator Tour in Reggio Emilia, Italy, from May 24th to June 1st in 2019. Everything we’ve done, every move we’ve made has a story worth sharing.
Here are some reflections from the night:
Thank you, Roleen, for taking the time to share your journey and the evolution of our school.
When entering New School West each morning, it’s with a new lens. I have a deeper appreciation for the big picture planning former parents & staff enacted for us current and future families. So much has evolved in not just the environment but also the pedagogy. It’s indicative of the mindsets our community embodies. The evening reinforced the ideas of flexibility, working together, honoring the child all through a singular mission of seeking the best practices in learning.
Feeling grateful to be a part of it all!
xLaura (Ava EW)
Hearing the stories and seeing the photos of the evolution of NSW gave me an appreciation and deeper love (if that’s even possible) of NSW. I guess I thought it was “born” the way it is, but I know now that each beautiful little detail and each connection was built over decades of love, intention, consideration and deep work.
xx Naomi (Tallulah WW)
I came home and told my husband everything I could remember (he is used to getting my play by plays) and I was sad to have missed the beginning of the story.
It was impactful to walk into NSW the next morning dropping Dillon off and notice all the before / and WAY after details from all the pictures and stories.
I loved knowing that Roleen worked at VONS!! It was so amazing to understand how far and how HARD it was.
I loved hearing the stories that led to the changes we get to “take for granted” now.
NSW has been kind of intimidatingly accomplished… I have felt like I’m a part of the cool crowd being accepted. (Not sure if that reads right). But what I mean is, everyone has a story and even though things seem rosy now, there is often a bumpy past that has lead up to today.
The evening helped me feel closer to the school than before. Like I got to see the baby book.
Thanks Roleen for taking the time! Looking forward to MORE!
Jordan (Dillon WW)
It’s funny, because I was cuddled up at home watching the dodgers game, and was conflicted because I wanted to be supportive of the school and come to the talk because I said I would. And I literally went back and forth for a good hour (I even texted Katy Roberts and said is it ok if I skip?). All of that to say that the school and you guys drew me out of my cozy spot on the couch, and you know what? I found an equally cozy spot right next to you all in the West Wing at NSW.
NSW is cozy. And we all saw those pictures from before when it wasn’t so cozy. But, I’ll bet even though it didn’t quite look cozy back then, it probably still felt warm and fuzzy with Roleen at the helm and her gift of bringing together families to build a community.
During the talk I felt like part of a community and I felt like we all showed up. And that alone is important. And as Jordan said, I felt the lasting affects of that this week. In the inner courtyard, I noticed other parents a little bit more. I slowed down and looked in their eyes
when greeting them. Said hi to a few more people than usual. And thought about and saw how important that courtyard is.
There is the entrance hall, which informs and documents,
and which anticipates the form and organization of the school. . .
The entrance hall leads into the central space, or piazza, the place of encounters, friendships, games, and other activities that complete those of the classrooms. p 64, Hundred Languages of Children
At the talk, I was reminded again how hard the teachers work and how stretched thin they are. And the challenge they/we have of showing more people outside of the NSW community all of the great work the kids are doing.
Education has to focus on each child, not considered in isolation
but in relation with the family, other children, the teachers,
the environment of the school, the community, and wider society.
Each school is viewed as a system in which all these relationships,
which are all interconnected and reciprocal, are activated and supported. Carlina Rinaldi
I guess I’d like to learn more about how we can help and what’s the vision of Roleen/the teachers in this regard? I felt like in the Q and A portion of the evening, some stuff came up and we could’ve made a whole new talk out of that. Like scalability, honoring the teachers workload and helping them do bigger things outside of the school (if that’s indeed what they’re interested in), Roleen’s bigger picture vision (if there is one) etc, etc. I just felt like at the end of the talk, there were some question marks, some challenges brought up, and I left wondering how I could help more.
Looking forward to more good stuff. Brandi (Barrett WW)
It has been said that the environment should act as a kind of aquarium
which reflects the ideas, ethics, attitudes and cultures of the people
who live in it. This is what we are working toward. Loris Malaguzzi
Uri Bronfenbrenner, an ecological theorist, reminds us that
“all aspects of development are interconnected,
much like the threads of a spider’s web
are all intertwined and with interconnectedness.
We do not work work effectively all alone.”
Basically, this just says we are better together,
that what each of us is experiencing affects all of us
and that to help ourselves, we need to support each other.
It makes sense to me.
Here’s to all of us and for making every moment count.
And. . . thank you. xoR