Dec 23, 2022
Hello Park West Community,
2022 is coming to a close and as we approach 2023 I have taken a moment to ask, what stands out to me about this year? And what reflections can I bring with me into 2023 and for the rest of this school year?
I have been the director at Park West for 6 months now. When I began I knew that I would love working with our amazing staff, that I would treasure my time in the classrooms with your children, and that I was joining a community of thoughtful and generous parents who work hard every single day for their children. I knew I was coming to lead an already strong community into the future. And after 6 months on the job, my impression of Park West brings to mind two words: commitment and connection. I am touched by the commitment that this community has to each other and the ways that these commitments connect back to what is most important to us all, that Park West be a place where children and their ideas are taken seriously.
I see parents every morning and afternoon who put in the effort to show up for school, which isn’t always easy. Parents fill in and assist, even if it's not their day, because the need arises. The Education Committee answers emails and holds meetings after bedtime and during nap times; ensuring successful community events and enduring traditions. The Gala Chairs make phone calls, solicit donations, and brainstorm ways to make our annual event as fun and meaningful as it is important to our budgets bottom line. Board members show up for meetings, run errands, help solve problems, and donate their expertise to Park West. It’s a lot of work! For those parents and staff who have been with Park West the longest, we rely on you to connect us to our past, to remind us of our rituals and remind us of why we do what we do.
Teachers are committed to your children every single day; seeking to understand each of them, to learn about how they learn best, to think about what interests and excites them. What will help make transitions easier for them? What will bring them joy at school? How can we best prepare them for what comes next after Park West? Teachers and staff continue to inspire me with their commitment to each other. The way that each of us shows up when we are needed, the way that we cover and support each other in our personal and professional lives.
It’s all of this that makes Park West such a unique and incredible place. And so why is it that Park West elicits such commitment from its members? If you ask me, I think it is because each of us gets as much as we give. I see a beautiful balance at Park West, where we all give what we can give, and then we get back all that we need. I myself am equal parts proud of what I have given to Park West and humbled by what I have received. I hope that the same is true for you. And from the bottom of my heart I want to thank each of you for all the ways and times that you have given. Park West is a place where children and their ideas are taken seriously and it is in our commitment and connection to each other that we achieve and maintain this value so beautifully, year after year.
Thank you to the Board of Directors, to the incredibly talented office staff, to the teachers, to the substitute teachers, to Teresa who cleans our school with care and reliability, and to every child who trusts us enough to show up and play. We each have a role and I am grateful to each of you.
In these next few weeks I hope that you are able to enjoy quality time with those that you love. I hope that you find moments to sit on the floor, without your phone, without any agenda, and delight in the wonder of childhood, delight in your child and in the opportunities you have to be with them. Wishing you peace, joy, and a happy and healthy new year!
Warmly,
Melissa Boshans