Greetings Kent Community,

The conflict unfolding in Europe shows us all how fragile, uncertain, and dangerous the world can be. Current events stand as a poignant reminder for me that education is not simply the repetition of facts and skills, but rather the ongoing development of critical thinking, interpretation, analysis, and communication that helps one make sense of the world, and contribute to their communities. We will continue to make space for our students to safely inquire and discuss events as they unfold in Ukraine and beyond, and trust that the processing with their classmates and teachers will lead to greater understanding and empathy for what people in the region are currently experiencing.

Please join enrichment department chair Melissa Stephens, assistant principal Wendy Holmes, and me for this Friday’s Principal’s Coffee from 8:45 to 10 a.m. in the Kent Library. This month we focus on the rich selection of enrichment courses offered at Kent, the key objectives of different enrichment offerings, and the ways enrichment classes contribute to the overall academic, social, and creative student experience at our school. Learn about classes like Woodshop, Start-Up, Makers, Art, Service Innovation, Social Action, Screenwriting, Ted-Talks, American Business and Societal Change, Music, and more. Current 6th and 7th graders will be selecting enrichment courses for the 2022/23 school year by the end of this month, so please join us to learn more about the options available for your child in advance of our selection process. Additionally, current 5th grade families may find this session useful to learn about the 6th grade enrichment wheel, and class choices for future years.

So, please join us at Kent on Friday at 8:45 a.m. for a warm cup of coffee and an engaging presentation in the Kent Library. We may have some special guest drop-ins, as well as a selection of creative student work samples to review. Virtual participation will be available through this Zoom link, and in-person Spanish translation will be available. We look forward to seeing you on Friday for our March Principal Coffee!

Take good care,