Sarah Shares: Loving and Letting Go

Often in school life, we are both in the present while also preparing for the future. This week at Greene Towne, we are supporting Greene Towne families who are making their choices from acceptances from area schools for First Grade, and also helping to launch that exploration for next year’s Kindergarten families. 

Last night Greene Towne hosted our annual panel discussion for families about applying to first grade. Here in Philadelphia, we are fortunate to have a wide variety of choices of excellent elementary schools. At this event, we invite representatives from the network of schools which have received hundreds of Greene Towne graduates over the years. Each guest speaks about what makes their type of school unique and special, including single sex schools, K-8 schools, Quaker schools, Montessori elementary schools, religious schools, and public schools. 

We also provide an overview of the process, and the strong support that teachers and administrators provide for each family over the course of the Kindergarten year as you are exploring the next best step for your child after Greene Towne. 

We used to hold this program solely for the rising Kindergarten parents, but have opened it up to all families to give a clear picture of this process and support well ahead of time. The benefits of a multiyear classroom truly come to fruition with the completion of the Kindergarten year, not only through the child’s full experience throughout Primary, but also through the in depth knowledge that our teachers have of each child’s growth and development, which helps to inform and support families’ choices for First Grade. (You can learn more about this process, support, and timeline on our website.)

Of course, as parents we experience this same present-and-prep-for-the-future all the time. I often catch myself savoring moments with my children even while I am encouraging them in their independence and growing responsibility. 

In a conversation with the parents of our newest toddler student (who joined us two weeks ago), a mom shared how close they had become during the past year, staying at home together during the pandemic. As her son joined us at Greene Towne, they all felt the separation and change very strongly, and yet, he is ready for all we have to offer, making friends and exploring all the beautiful works and routines in the classroom, and she knows it is right for all of them. 

As we support our children in their journey, we are letting them go even when we wish we could hold them close forever. The milestones change, and the care and support is always present, at home and at Greene Towne.