Dear Families,
When Mother Nature offers a gift like fresh snow, our teachers lean in. Physical Education becomes sledding down the hill, Early Childhood large motor development turns into shoveling paths and navigating uneven terrain, and science lessons deepen as second graders studying hibernation can see the season’s rhythms firsthand. Through our partnership with Kestrel, students are able to read animal tracks in the snow, learning to observe, wonder, and interpret the natural world as it is.
Moments like these are easy to dismiss as simply fun, but if you look more closely, something more profound is happening. Play, especially the kind that emerges organically from a place, a season, or a shared moment, is one of the most powerful ways children learn. It strengthens problem-solving, adaptability, creativity, and social awareness. When children negotiate the rules of a game, test their balance on uneven ground, or lose themselves in imaginative exploration, they are building the cognitive and social foundations that support lifelong learning.
At Brookwood, play is not something we fit in around “real” learning. It is integral to it. Whether through movement-rich lessons, outdoor exploration, or hands-on discovery shaped by the weather and the moment, we believe childhood should be filled with curiosity, connection, and genuine wonder.
As we head into the weekend, with more snow in the forecast, I hope your family finds time to enjoy the season in your own way: perhaps a snowball fight, a long walk, or a quiet moment outdoors.
Warmly,
Jon
.png&command_2=resize&height_2=85 "Reflections from the Athletic Director")
.png&command_2=resize&height_2=85 "CONNECTED AT BROOKWOOD: A Note Before Break")
