List of 5 news stories.

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  School as a Sanctuary

  3/5/2026
  Kim Ridley, Head of School
  There is a word I've been sitting with lately: sanctuary.

  
  

  At its root, sanctuary means a place set apart. Sacred, protected, consecrated to something greater than the pressures of the ordinary world. Historically, sanctuaries were spaces where people could enter and know, with certainty, that they were safe. That the chaos outside could not follow them through the door.

  
  

  I believe that is exactly what a school is meant to be. And right now, in this particular moment, I believe it more urgently than ever. Children cannot learn when they are afraid. This is not a philosophical position; it is a neurological fact, backed by decades of research in child development and the science of learning. When a child's nervous system is in a state of threat or hypervigilance, the parts of the brain responsible for curiosity, memory, and meaning-making simply cannot do their work. Safety is not the soft part of education. It is the foundation upon which everything else rests.
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  The Classroom Expanded: Why We Are Voyaging to Puerto Rico

  2/5/2026
  Kim Ridley, Head of School
  As we approach Monday, February 9th, there is a palpable energy in the hallways. Just yesterday, I was speed-walking to a meeting when a Unit student intercepted me. "Kim," they asked with genuine enthusiasm, "Are you excited about the trip?" I paused. For a microsecond, my brain didn't go to tropical breezes. It went to my inbox, the logistical challenge of leaving the office for a week, and the weight of ensuring dozens of children are safe across the ocean. But I shoved my internal "To-Do" list into a mental drawer, smiled, and said, "Of course I am." And the funny thing is, as soon as I said it, I realized it was true. I am excited for our school and students to have this opportunity!

  
  While the packing lists are being checked and the sunscreen is being bought, I want to take a moment to pause and frame exactly why we are about to board planes for Puerto Rico, and why this trip represents a critical piece of Fayerweather's academic vision. From February 9th through the 13th, our students will not merely be "visiting" a Caribbean island; they will be engaging in a rigorous, immersive case study of history, ecology, and culture.
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  What We Mean When We Describe Ourselves as ''Progressive'

  1/8/2026
  Kim Ridley, Head of School
  As my favorite season of the year comes to a close, I find myself grateful for moments of connection, such as long conversations with my grown-up daughter and time spent with friends, which remind me how restorative it can be to slow down and be present. I hope you and your children’s time away was similarly restful and rejuvenating. 
  
  

  As we return to school and move deeper into enrollment season for the 2026–2027 school year, I’ve been reflecting on the language we use to describe who we are. One word in particular: progressive. We identify as a PreK–8 progressive school, and yet, in today’s cultural context, it’s worth asking what that word truly conveys, and whether it clearly communicates the educational experience we work so intentionally to provide.
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  A Thoughtful December Reflection

  12/4/2025
  Kim Ridley, Head of School
  December is the time of year when I can finally slow down just enough to take stock of how the year is unfolding, reflect on what the past few months have taught me, and consider how those lessons will shape the arc of the rest of the school year. Usually, these reflections arrive during winter break, when I’ve had at least one nap and a cup of tea that I actually finished. But this year, the thoughts seem determined to show up early, perhaps because there is simply so much that is on my mind.
  
  

  adrienne maree brown writes in Emergent Strategy that “transformation doesn’t happen in a linear way. It happens in cycles, convergences, and explosions. If we release the framework of failure, we can realize the iterative cycles, and we can keep asking ourselves, How do I learn from this?”
  
  

  If you’ve spent even ten minutes in our hallways recently, you know: Fayerweather is currently mid-convergence, mid-explosion, and mid-iteration, sometimes all before lunch!
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  The Heart of Our Community: The Power of Giving

  11/6/2025
  Kim Ridley, Head of School
  When I started at Fayerweather in 2018, I’ll admit that one of my greatest uncertainties was fundraising. I wondered whether I would be able to inspire others to give, year after year, with the same conviction and hope that the work deserves. 
  
  

  The responsibility felt immense and deeply personal. A mentor once told me that raising money for a worthy cause is never difficult when you believe wholeheartedly in the organization's mission. Those words have proven true again and again. At Fayerweather, our mission of knowing every child, nurturing joy in learning, and teaching students to engage thoughtfully with the world has never been more important. 

  
  When Fayerweather was founded in 1967, I imagine that the founders believed this kind of education could be the antidote to the traditional, in-the-box kind of learning that was the practice of many public schools at the time.  Fayerweather founders imagined and brought to life a school where children could learn with purpose, passion, and curiosity amid social upheaval. Today, we find ourselves once again in a world marked by division and uncertainty, and the need for such a community feels even more urgent. The promise of Fayerweather endures: that through thoughtful, progressive education, we can cultivate the empathy, critical thinking, and courage our children will need to shape a better future not just for themselves, but for our greater community.
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