ﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠAs we turn from a focus on The Country School value commitment to our March “spotlight” on cooperation, two large school undertakings exemplify these values in action. Nearly “equi-distant” in time, the recently past Parents' Association auction dinner and the upcoming Upper School musical would not be possible without the extraordinary levels of dedication and collaboration that so many demonstrate. Both “events” model what can happen when people band together and are willing to devote truly untiring effort, perseverance, and team work toward compelling common goals. While talk about our values is important, living examples provide lessons of a powerful nature.
ﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠThe auction also brings to life another value we seek to inculcate within our children: generosity. This generosity was evident from our volunteers as well as our numerous underwriters, donors, and purchasers. Our auction chairs Kathy Dawkins and Christy Bartlett warrant special mention. Acting in this capacity for the second year in a row, they truly modeled exceptional levels of commitment and generosity. They, along with a host of amazingly dedicated volunteers, created a community-binding event for the family of Country School parents and have provided a legacy of possibilities for our students given what our Parents' Association can now contemplate providing in the coming year. All of the many volunteers provided incomparable examples of Country School values in action. Plus, with all that has been made possible, the commitment, cooperation, and generosity that defined Postcards Home will further impact every Country School child and family during 2006-07.
ﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠSeussical is about to take shape on our stage, and this year will play on two Friday nights and two Sunday afternoons. Given more limited performances, families should make their plans early to support our large cadre of actors and behind-the-scenes helpers. I feel confident that our audience will feel rewarded as a result of all the commitment and cooperation that has been dedicated to the show. Our students, directors, producers, and volunteers have literally been working for months on this production. Almost incomprehensible levels of planning, creativity, hard work, and team effort have gone into it. Anyone who has seen one of our Country School shows marvels at what all the perseverance and collaboration makes possible. Seussical will be another model of Country School values in action, and I am sure our students will shine on stage, as has become one of our school's most noted hallmarks.
ﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠCommitment, cooperation, and generosity are powerful values that are in abundant evidence at The Country School. They are important underpinnings to a well-lived life and they can indeed have a powerful impact on all that is possible. Our auction and musical demonstrate how abstract values can spring to life and enrich our community in concrete ways.