Several parents may have caught a glimpse of these images posted on our Facebook page this past Friday. How often does a fully arched double rainbow present itself? I do not have statistical evidence, but I speculate it must be a rare occurrence. If you examine the photos carefully, you will notice that the appearance of this particular set stretches from our Schoolhouse, across the Beech Tree Alley, and into our river stone Labyrinth. At PJS, the rainbow has special significance. Two years ago when I began my position as head of school, I initiated an inquiry with the entire school community, asking "Who Are We Together?" I learned of the School's rich history, rooted in the preservation of childhood. To me, rainbows have always been a symbol of the wonderment of childhood. So, it seemed natural for me to fill our once empty nautilus logo with a rainbow. But, there was more to my reason for inserting a rainbow in the empty shell. I was inspired by the story of Olivia, a former PJS student who tragically passed away just shy of her Kindergarten year. This was also the same time our building was erected and the art room was dedicated in Olivia's name. I learned that Olivia was passionate about art and especially rainbows. Above the entrance of the art room hangs her framed paintings from years past. Olivia's memory and the passion she possessed for rainbows became an inspiration for the rainbow nautilus, "cultivating passionate learners for the future." Incidentally, many ancient world cultures referenced rainbows as a symbolic bridge from one phase of life to the next. One could conceive our school symbol to serve in a similar manner, from childhood and the rite of passage to early adolescence.
The symbol of the rainbow also depicts our vibrant and very diverse School family. As you could imagine, I am pleased that a double rainbow presented itself with such fullness in the images above. I am very proud of where we are as a school; how far we've come and the direction of our growth. There are lasting ties in the relationships among us. We have a strong legacy of PJS families who have fond memories of their PJS experience. We have current and new families that continue to align with our School's mission and take interest in our evolving program. Our teachers demonstrate passion for their work in the company of children. They are among the most confident, capable, and caring group of whom I have ever known in a school setting. Most of all, I am especially grateful for our children, like Olivia Kuenne, who demonstrate wisdom in its purest form, untainted and without shackles. Our children hold such promise for a bright future, like that metaphorical "pot of gold" called lifelong happiness. Thank you for your continued partnership in surrounding our children with love, attention, and rich learning experiences. We all benefit from, and in many ways we are transformed by this important work. If you haven't noticed, I am wildly passionate about it as well. Warm Regards, Silvana |
Silvana ClarkHead of School's update and reflections about the happenings at PJS. Archives
October 2017
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