Parents,
The safety and health of all students and staff is of utmost importance.  If your student becomes ill during school hours, the nurse will contact you as soon as possible. After receiving a call from the nurse, we ask that you pick up your student within 60 minutes.  If you are unable to do so promptly, please arrange for a designated individual to do so on your behalf. 
 
Please note that our pick-up waiting area is located by the South circle carpool.  Once you have arrived, please call the front desk at (404) 765-4420 and your student will be escorted to your vehicle.

Thank you.
Phyllis Sullivan, RN, BSN, MPH
Lower School Nurse

Counselors’ Corner

Hello to our Lower School Families! 

We are heartbroken by the recent attacks against Asian Americans and we stand in solidarity with our Asian families.

Below are some resources to assist in discussing these events with your children. Additionally, you can find support on how we can help foster empathy for each other.

1. As a family, listen to this five-part PBS special about the history of identity, contributions, and challenges experienced by Asian Americans. 

2. Look for small, everyday moments - Finding simple things in common with other people can be a powerful way to help kids develop empathy for people who look different from them. Making Caring Common offers approachable empathy activities. The project's "just like me" activity encourages a simple language tweak: "Encourage kids to look for things they have in common with other people. ... For example, if your child says, 'He likes to go down the slide,' encourage them to say, 'He likes to go down the slide — just like me.

3. Expand your family's perspective - Books are a fantastic way to expose kids to diverse storytelling while also helping them see commonalities (per the aforementioned "just like me" empathy exercise), and also to expand adult perspective. "Eyes That Kiss in the Corners" by Joanna Ho and Dung Ho is a wonderful recently published picture book for kids. For adults, Cathy Park Hong's "Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning" provides an incredible lens into the Asian American experience. "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson changed my perspective and understanding of the upper and lower caste systems in America, as well as my position in the middle caste.

4. Model the behavior you want to see - Acting as we want our kids to act is a huge part of parenting. This concept applies to everyday human interactions as well as technology consumption.
"Our kids notice what we're doing even when we think they're not paying attention," Barr said. "Be mindful since our actions can have a negative effect on them by increasing their anxiety."

5. Be an ally for others - Part of being an ally means resisting that urge to center yourself; instead, tend to the feelings of the person who is suffering and elevate other people.

Remind your kids -- and yourself -- how important it is to be a good listener. Show your allyship by standing up for and supporting people, whether that means calling out racial aggressions or elevating the work of diverse voices.

In addition, we wanted to provide some resources for families while we continue to navigate supporting ourselves and our children during these unprecedented times. The CDC provides us with some helpful information that you can find in their COVID-19 Parent Resources Kit.

Please contact us at taylor.strawn@woodward.edu and carrie.lauchlan@woodward.edu if we can be of any additional support or if you have any questions or concerns.

Carrie Lauchlan

Taylor Strawn

Chaplain's Corner

Greetings Woodward Academy Community,

I cannot believe it’s already April 2021! And while so much continues to occur in the world, I remain inspired by the compassion of our students each day and their willingness to share their beautiful traditions with one another. For instance, a few of our students participated in this video highlighting Navroz, Passover, Holi, and Easter! 

As we move through April, I am eager for our students to share about the following religious observances:

• April 1 (Christianity) - Holy (Maundy) Thursday commemorates the washing of the feet and the institution of the Lord’s Supper by Jesus.
• April 2 (Christianity) - Holy (Good) Friday commemorates the Passion of Jesus Christ.
• April 4 (Christianity) - Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and initiates the 50-day period of Pentecost.
• April 4 (Judaism) - This is the final day of Passover, commemorating the departure of the Israelites from Egypt.
• April 8 (Judaism) - Yom HaShoah is held in memory of the six million Jews who died as victims of Nazi atrocities.
• April 13-May 12 (Islam) - Ramadan is a time of self-examination and religious devotion, during which Muslims do not eat or drink from the first sign of dawn until sunset.
• April 14 (Hinduism & Sikhism) - Vaisakhi is the first day of the solar new year, celebrating the harvest.
• April 26 (Buddhism) - Theravada New Year is celebrated as the new year for Theravada Buddhists, beginning with first full moon day in
  April and continuing for three days.

I pray you’ve experienced a positive start to 2021, as I know 2020 provided greater challenges than we possibly could have imagined. Please know that if you are struggling with your spiritual or mental health, you are not alone. I am always in your corner if you would like a little additional support. I am meeting with Lower School, Primary School, and Woodward North classes this Spring to help students focus on self-compassion. I am happy to continue to have these conversations with any of our students, employees, or families.

Blessings,

Rev. Katie O'Dunne (she/her)
Chaplain K
Woodward Academy Chaplain
The Pauline and R.L. Brand Jr. '35 Chair of Religious Studies
404-391-7589
katelyn.odunne@woodward.edu

Changing Student Learning Preference