Welcome Back from Nancy Campbell: August 2018

Welcome Back from Nancy Campbell: August 2018
Posted on 08/27/2018

Dear Haggerty Families,

If you are a new or returning Haggerty family member,

WELCOME

Soo Dhawoow! Khosh Amadid! Marhaban! Bienvenidos!
Swagatum! Dahan-mesika! Bienvenue! Anquan danah mahtu!
Svagat! Huānyíng! Pryvet! Irasshaimase!
Välkommen! Fáilte! Atithi tarīkē svīkārya! Fogadtatás!
Hacheli! Willkommen! Καλωσορίζω! Benvenuto!
Eoseo Oshipsio! Chào đón!
Bem-vindo! Shalom!
Voghjuyn!
Welkom!

That’s “welcome” in 27 languages, and I’m sure I’ve missed a few! If I did, or if I made some errors, please let us know. Our goal is to have everyone not only feel welcome at Haggerty, but wanted and valued. 


This year the staff and I will continue working hard to dig deep into inclusive instructional strategies and practices. This includes racial equity and examining our own biases, practices, as well as school and district practices and policies. We are deeply committed to examining the practices that promote access and learning for all of your children and look forward to sharing that work. In order to do this work well, we need to build our skills. Thirteen Haggerty staff (with 5 on a wait list to attend during this school year) are completing a four-day training in Disruptive Equity and Education Project (DEEP). There is an urgency we all feel and in order to confront the many needed changes within the educational system and in order to do that well, we have to build our expertise. Dr. Darnisa Amante is the founder of DEEP. Lissa and I are working on time for her to join us at a Haggerty parent event some time this fall. Stay tuned for that date and in the meantime, feel free to check out the DEEP website by clicking here.

You can learn more about all of these topics, and more, at a School Advisory Council (SAC) meeting. The Council is made up of 4 parent representatives, 4 staff representatives (including the Principal) and community members, although all meetings are open to the public. Questions - ask our current Parent Representatives - Matt Smith, Keri Randolph or Jim Moore, or our Family Liaison Lissa Galluccio. We plan to meet in the mornings this year, likely Mondays. If you need an avenue to ask questions or share concerns, you always have the classroom staff. The SAC representatives also want to make sure you know the best ways to advocate for your children and family. In the spirit of information sharing, we recently finalized the Haggerty Guidebook; it has been posted to the website and can be found here for your reference.

In the DEEP work, Dr. Amante has reminded us that we can’t have equity without empathy, and in order to have empathy we have to be able to listen actively. We are working on active listening with all of the Haggerty students this year. The classroom and specialist staff, special education team and instructional coaches will be sharing more about that work. 

It’s important that you know the WHY behind this important work we’re engaging in with your children. In my adult years I can’t recall a more important time for our children and community to be working on active, empathic listening. Regardless of our own personal feelings and opinions – we are poised in this political climate, to join our children in this work. We must remind ourselves as adults how important it is to consider the thoughts, feelings and opinions of others, especially when they are different than our own. As Leo Tolstoy states, “Everyone thinks about changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” Thank you – I know you’re eager to join us in the work in service of your children. 


As always, thank you for sharing your children with us! We look forward to a great year!

Warm regards, 


Nancy

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