Dear Parents,

One thing that once again has become very apparent to me this month is how much people care about our school. On Saturday about 40 families came to our registration and "get the school ready" work party! Wow, that kind of turnout is simply amazing.

I've got to share just a few examples of the many things that happened. Bob came to me in the morning and asked what he could do. I introduced him to Eveleen who showed him the dead branches in our mini willow forest that I was worried about and he got right to work. Later that afternoon he checked in with me, sweaty and obviously tired, but with a huge grin on his face. He had worked all day, respecting all the trees while making the area safe for children to play in. Audrey, our new art teacher was able to come in the morning, moving furniture and scrubbing floors. Our new P.E. teacher, Stacy, was also there helping to monitor children playing in the "bouncy castle" while organizing the P.E./recess equipment and helping out with the new wall in the shed. Noah probably worked at least as hard as anyone on everything from helping get lunch ready to reorganizing the school library; he begins third grade this year. Barb, Traci, and Carrie were buzzing around the office so fast that I simply could not keep up with any of them. Please help me give a huge thank you to them for putting in untold hours organizing this day! Needless to say, we got nearly everything checked off our wish list; from cleaning the kitchen to building a wall in the recess/P.E. Shed to filling in some holes in the playground. Thanks so much to everyone who was able to take part, your hard work and enthusiasm was absolutely phenomenal!

One quick reminder, on Tuesday, August 28, our parent orientation will take place. This is for all families, especially those who are moving into a new class. Stacy will be here to watch the kids while parents meet with their child's teacher in the individual classrooms. It will be a great opportunity to find out exactly how your child's classroom is run and what to expect for the coming school year.

As of this writing, Chimacum has still not begun their interview process, leaving Lowell in limbo. His family's distinctive health issues continue to drive his pursuit of a uniquely complete health coverage, and of course we all wish him the best in this regard. However, he is also committed to staying with Swan School and providing the best possible educational program for the Adventurers if this particular opportunity falls through. As difficult as the timing of this process has been for everyone involved, I must say that it yet again shows how passionate everyone is for Swan School. We all (board, parents, and staff) strive to provide what is best for the school and the students. Everyone has a stake in our school's health, and everyone has done and continues to do whatever they can to help this school reach its potential as the school where education is experienced as it should be everywhere.

As I have reflected on the passion everyone has for this wonderful place, I of course also reflect on my own passion for Swan School. I find that I feel it most purely when I am with the children. When a smiling face comes running across the playground to great me with a big hug after a summer full of adventure, when a new student looks at me with full eyes and silently asks to have their anxiety about their new school eased with just a sincere heart-felt smile, and when a child uses all the skills they have learned while in our school to try to right a wrong; those are the times when I am reminded why Swan School is such a special place.

Russ