Dear Families,

 

Wow—what a fun and meaningful final week of school! Although we had to shift Field Day indoors due to much-needed rain, the good news is that the students had an absolute blast. There was so much laughter, joy, and memory-making—all in the comfort of air conditioning. Sometimes we simply have to find the blessing in the unexpected, and our rainy Field Day certainly turned into a sweet one. Thank you to all of our parent volunteers!

 

On Thursday, we had the joy of recognizing our students during our award ceremonies. These celebrations always invite reflection, and I was deeply struck by how much our students have grown—both academically and spiritually—over the course of the year. One especially meaningful moment for me was watching a 15-minute video highlight reel from kindergarten. Yes, every minute was worth it. My heart nearly burst with joy as I reflected on what God has done in and through these children. It also affirmed that taking the next step to add an additional kindergarten classroom was the right decision for our school. As a result of this expansion, we do still have a few kindergarten seats available for next year. If you know a family looking for a wonderful place for their kindergartener, please encourage them to give us a call.

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As we look ahead to next school year, I want to remind families to download the summer learning materials available in your FACTS Family Portal. Supply lists for next year can also be found there. In addition, we are excited to share that we are redesigning both orientation and Open House to better support families.

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Orientation will now be provided as a video for families to watch together prior to the start of school. We have also shifted upper school schedule change request to an online system using our FACTS portal. This new process should remove the previous in-person lines for schedule change requests. We will send the directions to families once the access is open.

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School supply drop-off and teacher meet-and-greet will take place during Family Sunday on August 2. All families are invited to worship together at Beaches Chapel from 11:00–12:30, followed by a church-hosted cookout in the gym from 12:30–1:30.

 

Classrooms will be open after worship for families to meet teachers and drop off supplies. Our plan is for:

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· Lower School families to drop off supplies from 1:00–1:30 and eat from 12:30–1:00

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· Upper School families to eat from 1:00–1:30 and drop off supplies at lockers from 12:30–1:00

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These times are intended as gentle guidance rather than strict start and end windows. Our hope is that this event allows families to connect with teachers while also building community with one another over lunch.

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Based on parent feedback from last year, we learned that many families desired more individualized time to discuss their own child—something that can be challenging in a traditional Open House setting. As a result, we are restructuring Open House into a full day of parent conferences on Friday, September 4. Parents may choose to meet in person or virtually. By that time, students will have been in school for three weeks, MAP testing will be complete, and teachers will be ready to discuss each student’s growth and learning plan. There will be no school for students that day, as teachers will dedicate the entire day to meeting with parents.

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I have one more update to share related to our dress code. Over the course of the year, students shared feedback requesting more flexibility with shoe color options. After listening carefully and reviewing the guidelines, we are happy to share that we are expanding the shoe color options for next year and will no longer be limiting shoes to school colors. We hope this adjustment provides families with greater flexibility while still maintaining a neat and appropriate dress code.

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To help with planning, below is the updated shoe dress code language:

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Shoes (All Grades):

All shoes must be closed toe.

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· Grades K–5: Students must wear athletic shoes daily. Shoes must be one solid color with one or two trim colors. No character designs, sparkle, light-up features, neon colors, wheels, etc.

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· Grades 6–12: Students may wear athletic shoes or boat shoes, in one solid color with one or two trim colors. No character designs, sparkle, light-up features, wheels, etc.

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Thank you for your partnership as we continue working together to balance student input, clear guidelines, and a positive school culture.

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I also want to share an update on our lower school outdoor classroom. Artificial turf is scheduled for installation during the last week of May, and the handcrafted furniture is on track to be completed before the start of the school year. I am so grateful for the parents who have supported this vision with ideas, encouragement, and generosity. Additionally,

we are thankful for a parent who painted beautiful murals in our lower school restrooms. We are now seeking someone with artistic gifts to create something equally uplifting for our upper school restrooms. If that might be you—or someone you know—we would love for you to consider blessing our students in this way.

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During the summer months, school offices will be open Monday–Thursday from 9:00–12:00. While we will often be on campus outside of those hours, we may be working around campus and not readily available by phone or at the front door. If you would like to schedule an appointment outside of office hours, please email me directly and I will gladly find a time that works for you. Please note that the school will be closed the week of Memorial Day and the week leading up to July 4.

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As we close this school year, thank you for the trust and partnership you have extended to us. It has been a joy to watch your children grow and to walk alongside your family this year. As summer begins, my prayer is that your days are filled with rest, laughter, meaningful time together, and moments where you clearly see God’s faithfulness. Please know that even during the summer, your school family continues to pray for you and your children. We are already looking forward—grateful and expectant—for all that God has planned for the year ahead.