Sixteen years! So much has happened in my life and this year has been a big turning point for me. My 18 year old, Karina, will be attending UC Santa Cruz in the fall. Isabella, who is 11, is passing her first year at John Adams Middle School with flying colors and my energetic 5 year old, Sergio, will be graduating from NSW and attending Edison’s Spanish Immersion School in Santa Monica. All three of my children have reaped the benefits of the amazing teachers and families who make this school the wonderful place it is. I have reaped the benefits, as well, and I am blessed and thankful to be surrounded by all of you. You’ll never know the gifts you give me. You inspire me everyday and I am grateful.
That said, I see this as a time to push ahead on this life’s journey and I’ve accepted a teaching position at SGM Atelier, a preschool not far from NSW.
We know the teachers there and the director, Maureen, worked a short time with us at NSW before she opened her school a few years ago. I am embracing the challenge that will have me taking my teaching experience into a more powerful mentoring role and I love the idea of building a community that knows the importance of embracing teamwork to support families and children. That’s why my decision is bittersweet.
My last day here will be July 19th and the teachers and I are working on a timeline so we can tell the children in a way that will be most supportive of them. We’ll keep you posted on that so, in the meantime, we’d appreciate your not talking to them about this before we’re ready. It will be soon.
I want to give my deepest profound love and gratitude to Roleen who has given me so many years here at NSW to learn, grow, and discover the things my soul was calling for me to do. It’s not an easy decision to leave the comfort of “home” but I know the time has come for me to move forward and take the gifts I have been given and share them with others . . new teachers and families in our community. I have marveled at the joy I have gained from listening to the small voice that has urged me on to accept new possibilities but If I have learned anything during these 16 years is that the NSW will always be the Best in the West. Every child that I have worked with holds a very special place in my heart. I consider them little butterflies who lift up and fly into the real world powered by the strong foundation that we (and you!) are giving them. In their landing, they will continue to meet new challenges, master new strengths and flutter through life with laughter, play, and lots of hard work. They won’t ever be alone and they will always be in my heart.
I’m leaving knowing that they are in safe hands. I am grateful to Jessica and Cindy who have stepped forward to say they’ll support the Daffodil group in the transition to the EW but as always, it’s the whole school team that makes the community strong and I feel so blessed to have everyone’s well wishes. We have all worked together to strengthen our goals for the children (each and every one!) and the teachers know them, understand them, and love them. It is their listening abilities that I have learned most from them but I take all of their gifts that they have taught me to my next school experience to share with others. I am ready to move on to become a mentor and do what I love best. . . to work with children, families, and teachers and make strong relationships. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Yoli
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