Remote Learning Starts Tomorrow, March 25

Dear Greenhill Families,I hope that you are all healthy and safe as we prepare for our first day of remote learning tomorrow. Greenhill has always been a school that strives for the balanced development of mind, body, and character, a value reflected in our mission statement and in our daily practices. This year’s annual theme of discovery also seems particularly apt as we are all about to embark on new ways of learning and connecting. We are in full-on discovery mode!Tending to the social-emotional health of our community must occur alongside continued academic learning, no matter how challenging the circumstances. There will likely be times, especially over the next few weeks, when social-emotional needs supersede all others. Without a doubt, this current environment is unique and unprecedented, and it is impossible to predict what the next day will bring. As I shared in my Saturday message, to me the pace of change over the last few weeks has felt dizzying, and I know that many of you likely feel the same way.In the midst of this destabilizing time, it is important to remember that children of any age thrive in environments with structure and predictability. We encourage you to set up a daily routine filled with play or breaks and opportunities for connection. To aid in that pursuit, Greenhill’s Student Support Team, which includes our school counselors, learning specialists, and nurses, has been working to anticipate any issues that might emerge with this shift to remote learning. They will continue to be available to students and families on an as needed basis, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to your divisional counselor and/or learning specialist. Additional resources about routines, learning spaces, and social-emotional practices have been shared by our division heads and may also be found on our coronavirus website.Finally, as our division heads shared in their letters yesterday, we are all adjusting and adapting to the world of remote learning. I encourage everyone to have patience, flexibility, and grace both with your children, yourselves, and our faculty. And speaking of our teachers, I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to all of our faculty members who have been working hard these last few days and weeks to prepare to move to remote learning. This is a shift of seismic proportions, and they have all engaged in the work with a sense of optimism and shared purpose. It’s been inspiring to watch.Please reach out to us if you need help. We are here for you. #GreenhillTogetherYours,Lee J. Hark
Head of School