Parent-School Partnership: A Reminder of our Mutual Commitment. A Special Call for Appreciating ALL

We use the word “partnership” a great deal at Fort Worth Country Day. We take seriously and believe strongly that faculty, staff and administrators are all on a team with you as parents. The stars of that team this year are 1,111 students, each with their own coaches and cheerleaders, some of whom are School employees, others of whom are moms, dads and guardians. Being on the same “team” does not mean we always agree, but it does mean we always have a shared goal: helping children reach and surpass their potential in every way.

We remind ourselves and our parents and guardians of the importance of that partnership with each year’s enrollment/ re-enrollment contract. That contract is accompanied by our formal statement of a Parent-School Partnership, which existed before my tenure that we overhauled on my arrival in 2015. The most significant message in this statement is to “assume goodwill.” Given that we all want what is best for the children, of course, we all mean well. 

In this brief note, I specifically wanted to draw attention to members of that team who interact with you as parents well beyond the classroom. The School has a significant presence of essential staff who work to beautify our grounds; greet at our gates as part of our Security team; serve in our dining hall; staff our non-academic offices; and clean in our classrooms, halls and bathrooms during and between every single school day. 

My message in these paragraphs is to remind us all of the value of those FWCD staff members. Personally, I am treated with sincere respect time and again in interactions with parents, both the happy and the unhappy variety. I am eager for us to maintain that same level of respect for each and every FWCD employee. How we recognize and appreciate each community member says a lot about who we are. Thanks for making sure you appreciate and even express your appreciation for the individuals who keep the food coming, the plant running, the grounds beautiful, and the campus safe.