FORWARD THINKING

Every three-to-five years, Shady Hill’s Board of Trustees leads a strategic planning process to establish priorities and identify new opportunities. The process keeps us focused on mission-appropriate growth and helps ensure that we are always moving forward. Since the completion of our last strategic plan, we have made significant progress around the review and development of new financial aid policies, a review of the Lower School math curriculum, a strategic review of the Teacher Training Center, and a redesign of the Lower School playground.

This year, independent school consultant Ryan Burke, Co-Founder and Senior Partner at Leadership and Design, joined a SHS steering committee of community representatives and stakeholders to help frame our work.

Having identified several areas for development, the Board of Trustees and administrative leadership invited parents and caregivers to share their thoughts in a series of “think tanks” around the priorities of:

• Enhancing the student learning experience

• Continuing to enroll a socioeconomically diverse student body

• Helping Shady Hill remain a leader of all PreK-8 independent schools

Additionally, two convergence sessions this spring will invite further review with the goal of prioritizing the think tank recommendations for the Board. Mark Stanek, Head of School, will work with the Board to publish a three-tofive year strategic plan next fall which will serve as the foundation of a new fundraising campaign.

We are grateful for the collaboration and support from the members of the steering committee as well as those who took the time to participate in the information sessions this year.

Forward Progress

In a year that defies comparison, we all have been buoyed by the lessons learned and the demonstrable progress made throughout our campus. Three notable examples illustrate the attention being paid to the SHS student experience through curriculum, facilities, and teaching.

The Value Of Play

SHS was a pioneer in the intentional application of play in today’s progressive classroom. A thematic, project-based curriculum not only allows but encourages children to be children, making learning a joyful pursuit. It happens every day in and out of the classroom and soon it will happen in our new playground. With the help of an SHS research committee and Landscape Architect and alum Mary Webb ‘78, a new design will be presented this year and the real work of transforming a central part of our campus will begin.