• Sue Sadler

      Head of School

Between the local weather and the national news, school safety is certainly a topic that is heavy on my mind. We join with schools across the nation extending our deepest sympathies to the Parkland, Florida community. As an educator, entrusted with the education and wellbeing of children, I am heartbroken for these families and teachers, as I am sure you are. Nothing in my own education prepared me to respond to tragedy of this magnitude, and while thoughts and prayers seem cheap, I feel compelled to send them nonetheless.

Acts like this rock our sense of safety and are especially difficult for children to put in perspective. How do we, as parents and teachers, respond to their questions and fears? They need examples of strong and optimistic voices. While there are age appropriate variations, empathy, honesty and reassurance are still the best combination. That’s harder and harder to provide as we see the frequency of violence in schools and society increasing. But this is a time to turn off the news and have children hear the voices of the adults around them. They need hope. They need security. They need love.

Here at school, we will continue to stay vigilant to potential danger, honing our security protocols and practicing what is within our control. We also provide resources to help children and parents work their way through a wide range of feelings and encourage you to speak with your child’s team if you feel that your child is struggling, or if you, yourself, need help in finding words to reassure them.

I’m struck by acts of bravery that took place amidst this tragedy; for example: a coach, who probably never envisioned himself as a first responder, running into the shooting to protect his students; a superintendent who, despite the devastation to his district, was able to feel compassion for an isolated child turned shooter, and the students themselves, who refuse to let this incident go down in the books without material change. Their courage in the face of tragedy is inspiring.

As adults, we need to help students make sense of their world, as increasingly volatile and random as it is. “News” is being delivered to us all, 24/7, including to our smart-phone equipped children, and social media has completely eliminated the need for any “official source” for opinions. The barriers between the school day and the real world have disappeared, and interwoven throughout our day, we find ourselves expected to respond to the latest breaking stories. We hope to do that with moderation, wisdom, perspective, and empathy, despite any emotional havoc it may be wreaking within us. That’s a tall order for parents and teachers these days. And, it’s a real change in the definition of “childhood.”

Not since the sixties have young people taken the activist stance I see today. Many parents ask me if it’s the school’s role to weigh in on current events, and I answer, do we really have any choice? I quote straight from our mission. “A Bryn Mawr education is grounded in the expectation that young women will be resilient in the face of complexity, ambiguity, and change; will become responsible and confident participants in the world; and, will lead considered and consequential lives.” This calls us to help support students as they find their voice and use it to advocate for a better world.

Warmly,
Located in Baltimore, Maryland, The Bryn Mawr School is a private all-girls pre-kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school with a coed preschool for ages 2 months through 5 years. Bryn Mawr provides students with exceptional educational opportunities on a beautiful 26-acre campus within the city limits. Inquisitive girls, excellent teaching, strong student-teacher relationships and a clear mission sustain our vibrant school community where girls always come first.