One of the gifts of public education is our mandate to educate all children; we do not choose who will enter our doors. Building community among diverse stakeholders and creating a safe place for all is an active process, and it requires thoughtful cultivation and attunement. Therefore, we strive in preparing a rich soil that supports the growth of ALL young people and their families no matter their race, native language, gender identity, ability, sexual orientation, religious or non-religious identity, or immigration status. Borrowing from the words of the ecologist Thomas Berry, we know that “diversity is the magic”. Therefore, the school community we’re creating looks more like a riotous wildflower patch on top of Bearwallow Mountain and less like the tidy, monoculture of grass next door. Like all other healthy ecosystems, we’re interested in creating something that is life-sustaining and mutually beneficial. When was the last time YOU experienced this at school?

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We encourage strengthening our community each day, starting with our Morning Meetings, which give children a chance to share timely stories and thoughts with their peers while offering a time to set intentions for the day, as well as a mindfulness practice. 

 

FernLeaf students truly take ownership of our school and feel responsibility for its care. Duties are given in classrooms including weather reporting, trash patrol, feeding class animals, watering plants and general classroom care.

 

We also limit screen time, especially in the youngest grades. Community at FernLeaf includes not just our students and teachers, but families, our human and animal neighbors, and beyond.

 

Community is a foundation of FernLeaf’s mission, which is why we include it in our name. The School Events Committee helps create a culture of togetherness and compassion by cultivating experiences and traditions with real meaning. The thoughtfulness behind our school traditions builds authentic connection within our students, their families and our staff.