Teacher Margaret's "View From My Window" - March 26th

Dear Friends,

Some days, I know the universe is speaking to me. This quote from one of my favorite Quaker thinkers appeared in my email today.

“Every spring, commencement speakers take the stage across the country to tell the graduates, ‘Our hopes for the future are in your hands.’ I have an urgent message for these speakers: in the name of God, don’t do it! It’s unfair to lay all responsibility for the future on the younger generation. After all, the problems they face are partly due to the fact that we, their elders, screwed up. Worse still, it’s not true that the young alone are in charge of what comes next. We—young and old together—hold the future in our hands. 

If our common life is to become more compassionate, creative, and just, it will take an intergenerational effort. Let’s stop talking about “passing the baton” to the young as we elders finish running our laps. Since most of us are more skilled at sitting than at running, let’s change the metaphor and invite young adults to join the orchestra. As we sit together, we can help them learn to play their instruments—while they help us learn the music of the emerging world, which they hear more clearly than we do. Together we can compose something lovelier and more alive than the current cacophony, something in which dissonance has a place but does not dominate.”

— Parker J. Palmer, 2018
Quaker author, educator, and activist

Quoted in The Daily Quaker Message, March 26, 2026

I know this “orchestra” is at the heart of our work with your children. We listen, watch, and respond to their interests and their just-in-time learning needs. We plan programs and help them refine their strengths and gifts. A few recent examples come to mind. 

• In Preschool 3 a student wondered if a taco was a sandwich, this led to a month-long exploration of what a sandwich is and isn’t - complete with tasting some new foods. 
• A few younger elementary students have plateaued in their reading. They read several levels above grade level fluently, but their comprehension is on a lower level. To support them, teachers are working with parents to ask these young readers higher-order questions such as why did this happen, how does the author foreshadow, can you compare this event to another, and can you connect this part of the novel to something you already know. 
• The musical is behind us, planned out months before rehearsals began. The children worked through all of the many planned and serendipitous collaborations and practices to put on the wonderful show we all enjoyed. 

In Meeting for Worship this week, we enjoyed several messages focused on how to build a peaceful school – hold the door for each other, say something kind, don’t push someone off the swing, stand up for a friend, take deep breaths.  We settled into deeper worship as every child silently named each child in the room and asked that they might enjoy peace, joy, and health. We are singing Dona Nobis Pacem. 

Have a wonderful spring vacation.  Enjoy your intergenerational time together. Send me a postcard!

Holding you in the Light,

Margaret

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Announcements:

• The winner of our March Madness Book Competition was Stalactite and Stalagmite by Drew Beckmeyer - the vote was a landslide. When the results were announced 3rd and 4th grade cheered.
• Do you know a family whose child belongs at Westfield? Please send them our way. You are our best referrers. Have them register for our Open House on April 24th 9-11am
• March 27th - Parent Conferences - No school
• Wednesday, April 8, 7:15-8:20am - Family Council Pancake Breakfast
• Wednesday, April 8, 8:30am - Meeting for Worship. Join your children in the Meeting House.
• Wednesday, April 8, 6:30pm- Family Council Meeting in person in the school library.