Stratford Academy Stratford Family, I hope this email finds everyone staying sane and healthy during this unusually strange time! While it feels like much, much longer (says the dad with two young children who are crawling up the walls!) we are nearing the end of our second week of distance learning. I wanted to take an opportunity to share a few observations of the things we have learned over the last two weeks and provide a brief update of where we are heading. For starters, and it will come as no surprise to any of you, we have the best faculty members in the state of Georgia. Not only are they still able to deliver the robust, outstanding curriculum we have in place at Stratford, but they continue to go above and beyond to meet the needs of their students despite the current situation. I was most worried about our teachers because they love being around children. By removing daily interactions with children, it takes the enjoyment away. However, as you've seen firsthand, our teachers' hearts may be hurting, but they haven't skipped a beat during this transition. Secondly, we have the best students in the state of Georgia. I receive daily reports from my division heads who inform me of how the online classes are going. In each report, I ask to be notified if a student is not completing the work, satisfying requirements, or isn't being a team player. I'm delighted to announce that with nearly 800 students engaging in this online learning environment, I have received ZERO issues. That's incredible! I consider that a wonderful blessing as I listen to the disastrous situations that are playing out at various independent schools. Finally, we have the best parents in the state of Georgia. I love the constant stream of compliments and comments that you have been bestowing on our teachers and the curriculum. While I know you respect our teachers for the job they do each day, this has been a unique opportunity to see how much they really care for their students. And, while a few of you have reached out with suggestions or questions, I have yet to receive one single complaint regarding the curriculum or online learning. If you continue to approve of what you're seeing, please post about it all over social media! I love that our community gets to see the dynamic learning opportunities that Stratford provides. We are fully aware of how difficult this is for everyone - teachers, students, and parents - and how much more difficult this could become. I speak daily with the headmasters of local independent schools, and we have agreed to continue taking cues from our local government, as well as Governor Kemp's office. So, in keeping with the announcement that our governor made earlier today, Stratford will remain in our Distance Learning Format until April 24. It is my hope and prayer that by that time, the worst of the COVID-19 situation will have passed and we can return. If not, we will continue assessing and reassessing what is best for our students. Times are dark, there is no doubt. But, there are ample opportunities for our families to look for the light. I heard from a parent of a senior who said, "While my heart breaks for her, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little happy to have her all to myself during her last year at home." I've adopted the same mentality with my own family, because I know that one day I'll miss the sound of my children running up the stairs; I'll miss the breakfasts where they want to sit in my lap; I'll miss the screams and laughter coming from the bathtub in the evenings. Let's all agree to use this quarantine as an opportunity to focus on what really matters in this life: family. So, I encourage everyone to look for the light. After all, as my friend Albus Dumbledore so famously said, "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light." To keep us all connected, I will continue with my livestreamed Monday Morning Assembly each week at 10:30 a.m. on our Stratford Facebook and Instagram pages. In addition, you will receive a special treat on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. on the same social media platforms. These are called "Take a Peake" Thursdays and feature our faculty at home. Our talented band director, Laura Voss, and theatre director, Sylvia Haynie, kicked off this series with us this morning. Please take a moment to watch their short video: https://youtu.be/6AMtgp3JjyY. I promise it will make you smile! I love each of you, and I wish everyone a restful spring break next week. As always, please let me know what I can do for you and your family during this time. Courage and confidence, Logan Bowlds CEO (Chief Energy Officer) © 2019 Stratford Academy, 6010 Peake Rd, Macon, Georgia, 31220, 478.477.8073
|