.png?command_1=resize&width_1=220 "Head of School's Letter - September 12, Holding Steady in Uncertain Times")
Dear Families,
As we come to the close of our first full week of the school year, our halls and classrooms are alive with the energy of children deep in team building, setting classroom norms, and simply delighting in being together. Their joy and curiosity stand in juxtaposition to the heaviness of the world beyond our campus. As adults, we carry the weight of unsettling headlines and painful reminders of how fragile life can be. Our children, though, are shielded from much of that burden. Here at Brookwood, their days are filled with learning, laughter, and discovery — the very things that remind us why our work matters so deeply. Our role as educators and parents is to hold both truths: to acknowledge the turbulence of the world and, at the same time, to create for our children a community rooted in safety and hope.
In moments like these, Brookwood’s mission and values become more than words on a page — they are a compass. We are not immune to the currents of the wider world, but we are clear about who we are and what we stand for. Brookwood is a place where children are cared for, challenged, and known. It is a place where curiosity flourishes, where kindness is expected, and where every child learns that their voice and choices matter.
We believe in nurturing respect across differences, not because it is easy, but because it is essential to the health of our community and the well-being of our children. We believe in fostering empathy, not as an abstract ideal, but as a daily practice — in classrooms, on playgrounds, in the ways we listen to one another. And we believe in preparing students not only for academic success but also for the responsibilities of citizenship: to think critically, to seek understanding, and to act with compassion.
Our commitments are not new. They are the thread that has run through Brookwood’s history and will continue to guide us. Here, your children are part of a community rooted in care and clarity of purpose. And it is from that foundation that we take heart: raising children who will carry into the world hope, resilience, and the promise of a bright future.
With care and resolve,
Jon Bartlett
Head of School
Below are resources that reflect Brookwood’s enduring mission and values, along with tools to support families in helping children make sense of complex times.
Parent Resources
- Talking to Children About Difficult News (National Association of School Psychologists)
- Helping Kids Navigate News and Media (Common Sense Media)
Statements and Policies
.png&command_2=resize&height_2=85 "Connected at Brookwood: Week Two")
.png&command_2=resize&height_2=85 "School Picture Day 2025 - a note from Coffeepond Photography")
.png "Head of School's Letter - September 12, Holding Steady in Uncertain Times")
