List of 5 news stories.

• 

  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!
  Read More
• 

  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.
  Read More
• 

  Growing Our Place-Based Learning at Fayerweather

  10/9/2025
  Kim Ridley, Head of School
  School officially began just one month ago, and what a month it has been! In such a short time, our students have jumped right into the kind of vibrant, hands-on learning that defines Fayerweather. They’ve built community with their classmates, ventured out on field trips, created beautiful art, launched new writing projects, and even explored physics by designing solar-powered cars.
  
  

  One of my favorite moments came when two students excitedly invited me onto the balcony in the big yard to watch their creations in action. Their faces lit up as the sunlight hit the batteries and their cars began to move. In Stacy’s science class, I saw every student fully engaged, working together, troubleshooting, and celebrating when their designs came to life. These are the kinds of moments that remind us just how powerful learning can be when students are curious, invested, and connected.
  
  Looking ahead, one of my top priorities this year is to advance the strategic goals in our 2030 plan, Fayerweather 2030: A Future of Purpose. At the heart of this work is elevating our experiential learning model, something that has always been central to Fayerweather’s mission. For nearly 60 years, this commitment to learning by doing, following student interests, and creating space for exploration and critical inquiry has defined who we are. Now, we have the exciting opportunity to take this model to the next level together.
  Read More
• 

  Recognizing and Honoring the Experiences That Make Us Human

  9/4/2025
  Kim Ridley, Head of School
  Dear Fayerweather Families,
  
  Over the summer, I read Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee. The book lays out a sweeping, multigenerational story about a Korean family living in Osaka, Japan, during Japan’s occupation of Korea. Without giving away details, the novel traces how culture, power, family, and connection shaped ordinary lives. This story prompted some deep reflection about my family's unwilling journey to the United States, and I often have the feeling of, “How did I get here?” especially in light of what my ancestors suffered and endured. This reflection led to a conversation with Charlie, as over the summer, he read his family’s ancestral story written by his mother, which highlighted his family's migration from Ireland to the United States. He, too, tearfully shared his awe of how he got here, given all of the horribleness that ensued, which led his family to leave Ireland to seek a better life in the United States. I find myself weaving together the threads of irony of his family seeking a better life here, my family being forced to come here to provide free labor, and Min Jin Lee’s characters as they land us in Charlie’s office having this conversation. This reminds me that every person in our community carries a story shaped by place, privilege, power, oppression, and possibility.
  Read More
• 

  Preparing for a Year of Compassion, Capacity, and Curiosity

  8/28/2025
  Kim Ridley, Head of School
  Dear Fayerweather Families,
  
  

  Another school year is upon us, and as always, summer seems to pass far too quickly. I hope you found moments to rest, recharge, and enjoy time with family and friends. For me, this season has been a time to step back, reflect, and return with renewed gratitude and energy for the year ahead.
  
  

  The 2025–2026 school year will look different in many ways. Schools across the country are facing shifting enrollment and broader political, economic, environmental, and cultural changes that bring new challenges and opportunities. At Fayerweather, we are leaning into these realities with creativity and care, confident that our mission will continue to guide us.
  Read More