Spirit of Giving and Gratitude…

December is a time for many that is filled with the spirit of giving and gratitude. 

As educators, we give to our students during this culmination of the semester through opportunities of time to help, support, and guide. We give to our students through hosting sing-alongs and creating experiences of fun and joy with our students to close out 2023 and move towards the winter break. And we hold so much gratitude to be in a community that truly values student learning in and out of the classroom.

Students give to us by asking questions that matter to them and engaging with us as learners. They give to us by taking risks in the classroom, on the field or court as well as on or in the water, or through stepping on stage to use their full voice. How can we not have gratitude for their humor, dedication, and effort?

Families give to us by entrusting their children’s education to us. They give to us through sharing time, talent, and treasure to be a part of building our community that strives to support every child to develop the skills to lead a life of significance. We hold true gratitude for the partnership and trust they give us as we work with their children.

We are all asked every day to give in one way or another, and…I want to acknowledge that while this time of year can hold many moments of delight and connection, sometimes it can evoke feelings of loss or moments of distinct stress when it feels like there are too many demands on us. I recognize many in our community work multiple jobs, including Island School’s own faculty and staff, and this time of year, one may feel pressure to work additional hours and still meet everyone’s needs. Or perhaps you’re like me and this time of year not only is my favorite season, but it brings forward at unexpected moments the loved ones in our lives who are no longer with us. Thus for many, many reasons, while this time of year can feel joyful and exciting, it can also be emotionally hard. And so knowing this, I just wanted to pause and acknowledge the gratitude and grace I know we will show those around us in any way we can in these closing days of 2023.

With all this in mind, I couldn’t be more grateful to all those who have already given to the Voyager Annual Fund. As I wrote last week, solving the Island School financial puzzle is not a simple one. Therefore, the gifts we have received to the Annual Voyager Fund help us so much to close the gap in meeting the needs of our school community. 

The Board has shown its commitment and gratitude for the power of an Island School education through achieving 100% Board member participation in the Annual Fund. Woohoo! Everyday we get closer to our aspirational goal of 100% of our families participating in the Annual Voyager Fund, no matter the gift size. We hope you will join us today and help make so much possible in this dynamic community.

Together,

Nancy Nagramada

Head of School