Dear Lighthouse Families,
It feels nearly impossible that we are already at this point in the school year. I have spent the fall delighting in my favorite Nantucket Lighthouse School traditions and events, some long-standing and some new, and I am surprised by how quickly the time has passed. As I read our classroom teachers’ curriculum newsletters this week, I noticed that many of them referred to these same happenings and the care and intention that is devoted to them. With a school as young as ours, 24 years young to be exact, we are all helping to shape these important endeavors and cementing them into the school’s history.
Many thanks to our teachers (and Alicia, TJ, and Gary for schlepping the trees and sets) for this year’s Winter Celebration. It is always an exciting night and one where we are never entirely sure how the evening will proceed. Who will take the part of the lead who is sick? Will everyone remember their lines? If not, how will they and their classmates persevere through it? Will our Small Schoolers have stage freight? While teachers spend a great deal of time preparing with the children and bringing them to the theatre for one final rehearsal before the show, there are many variables that must come into alignment for each performance.
Having witnessed Winter Celebration for years, what I have always marveled at the most is the beautiful display of child development from our newly 3-year-old students to our fifth graders. The increasing complexity of their lines, songs, choreography, scenery, costumes, and performance as a whole reflect their growth cognitively, artistically, socially, emotionally, and in terms of their independence. Thank you for joining us for this year’s Winter Celebration and thank you to our teachers for all their work leading up to it.
While I don’t want to skip over the holidays, I do want to make sure all our families are aware that we will be hosting Dr. Edward Hallowell, a nationally recognized author and expert in the field of ADHD, on January 18. Whether you, your student, your spouse, your parent, a loved one, or someone you work with has been diagnosed with ADHD, this is a presentation you will not want to miss. Please mark your calendars for January 18.
Wishing you peace, joy, and togetherness this holiday season,
Emily
Happy, Thoughtful Kids Grown Here
Every morning my son selects a piece of gravel from the driveway and delivers it to me as if it is a sparkling gemstone. My growing collection of rocks is a beautiful reminder of the magic that children find in ordinary objects.
In fact, the National Toy Museum in New York features the stick – honoring its intrinsic role in play, proving that children do not need the latest gadget to ignite their imagination.
Be it a pebble, a cardboard box, or a stick, the simplicity of these everyday items allows children the space for their creativity to flourish. As the holidays approach, it is heartening to remember that the most valuable playthings do not need bells and whistles to offer the opportunity for enjoyment and exploration.
Warm regards,
Julia Maury
THANK YOU!
Winter Celebration was a magical event!
We are sincerely grateful to Lighthouse parents Laura and Chris Cunningham of Yellow Productions for capturing the night’s performances on video so that you may share them with family and friends. Thank you, Laura and Chris!
https://galleries.vidflow.co/wintercelebration2023
Password: NantucketLighthouseSchool
Faculty Spotlight
Anya Mogenson
Anya MogensonPlease join me in thanking Anya and wishing her the very best on her move west! While we are sad that she is moving to Colorado, we are also excited for her and her next adventure! When we return from break, Nantucket Lighthouse School alum Lilla Sharman will be working in Jessica’s classroom until we find a permanent teaching assistant.
