In the natural rhythm of a school year, February is a singular month. Our hallways are alive with a specific kind of magic: the “mid-year quickening.” The tentative steps of September have grown into the confident strides of mid-winter (even if the San Francisco sun has made it feel more like spring than winter!). Our students are no longer just navigating routines; they are owning them. They are no longer just meeting classmates; they are forging the deep, complex friendships that define a childhood.
We often speak of “progress” as an abstract concept, but in February, it becomes tangible. This is the season where the quiet, invisible work of autumn suddenly blooms. You may notice it in small, sacred moments, a sophisticated word used at the dinner table, a new perspective shared during a car ride, or a sudden, passionate curiosity about a topic that didn’t exist a month ago. These are the moments of “becoming,” where the child you knew in the fall reveals a new layer of who they are meant to be.
Inside our classrooms, this is a time of deep, intentional reflection. Our teachers are currently engaged in the collaborative work of “seeing” your children holistically. Through careful observation and dialogue, we are capturing the unique story of each student’s development. This process is about far more than data; it is about honoring the individual trajectory of every learner. This collective wisdom will form the heart of the report cards and the rich conversations we will share during our March conferences.
We are raising children in a world that moves with dizzying speed. As adults, it is humbling to realize how much of their future remains unwritten. However, I believe the antidote to that uncertainty is partnership. When we speak openly and listen with care, the weight of the unknown feels lighter. Our goal is not to predict exactly who they will be in twenty years, but to deeply support the child standing in front of us right now. In this alignment, we create a foundation of belonging that allows our students to take the brave risks necessary for true learning.
That same spirit of vitality is currently channeled into our Lunar New Year preparations. As we welcome the Year of the Horse, our campus is infused with a sense of strength and forward motion. Our faculty and staff have been working hand-in-hand to design a school-wide cultural fair, offering our students an authentic immersion into these traditions.
There is a beautiful symmetry in this moment: as we reflect on the individual growth of our students, we also gather to celebrate the rich heritage that binds us together as a community. We look forward to seeing you all at our Mass Greeting, where we will join our voices in a shared wish for prosperity and joy.
Warmly,
Wei Qian
Lower School Director