A Message from our Senior Leadership

Dear Sierra Canyon Families,

 

On Friday afternoon, your children finished the academic school year. Normally, this would be a time to partake in end-of-year parties, to celebrate our students’ accomplishments, and to reflect on the great learning that happened in our classrooms. It is also generally a time for all of us to settle into the rituals of summer that include more relaxed schedules, travel and leisure activities, and time to enjoy outdoor spaces. Given the ongoing recommendation to shelter at home, it was already difficult to feel the release normally associated with the last day of school and the first days of summer. None of us could have predicted the events that would lead to nation-wide protests this last weekend. It is painful to process the news and watch the videos of the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd. It was also emotional to watch peaceful protests transform into vandalism and looting throughout Los Angeles this weekend.

 

As an independent school dedicated to creating a campus environment that mirrors the diversity of our city, we are in a unique position to draw on our collective experiences and to come together as a community. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it is that while school may be closed, learning is not canceled. Indeed, some of our students are already engaged in the important work of considering their role in affecting change by engaging in groups on social media and reaching out in conversation with their teachers. On the Upper Campus, we are working with a group of faculty and students to create a virtual space to meet and talk about current events this Friday, June 5^th at 11:00 a.m. 

 

As parents, you may be seeking resources to facilitate conversations in your home about current events. We recommend the following resources to help you begin the conversation with your children: 

We are stronger than ever as a community. While we face the enormous challenges of an ongoing global pandemic, racism, and civil unrest, we can learn from one another to fulfill our mission as a school. We hope you will join us in this difficult and important work.

 

Sincerely,