As the twentieth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, we are afforded an opportunity to reflect and remember. We all have our own personal relationship to this event, and undoubtedly it has shaped the lives of our children, who are growing up in its aftermath.
This anniversary is particularly poignant as it dovetails with the end of the American intervention in Afghanistan. As educators, we have a responsibility to help our students understand the historical, social, and political implications of 9/11 so they can pair their critical thinking, inquiry, and reasoning skills with integrity, empathy, advocacy, equity, and global citizenship—transforming abstract understanding into concrete action with the goal of mutual understanding and peace.
In our polarized world, grappling with COVID alongside complex national and global events, it’s hard not to feel disheartened—and to want to turn away from hard truths. There is still so much to do in the areas of human rights and equity. But our children need to know that our community’s commitment to justice is steadfast, because we owe it to them to help build a better world. Education is the key to combating stereotypes and building community across differences. As such, we have developed age-appropriate lessons to mark this 20th anniversary and to model hope and create dialogue. Please ask your child’s teacher for more information if you are curious.
Because character-based, purpose-driven, intellectual-minded education is more important than ever, I’m grateful to have more space to think strategically about Turning Point’s mission and goals. I hope you will join me on Zoom from 6:30 – 7:30 pm on Tuesday, September 14, for Looking Forward: An Evening with the Head of School to learn more about the school’s vision and progress toward strategic goals.
This event is open to all members of the Turning Point community— parents/caregivers, faculty/staff, grandparents, and Trustees. Please RSVP here if you plan to attend.
I look forward to seeing many of you there, and I thank all of our parents, students, and faculty/staff for working so diligently and collaboratively to kick off this brand new school year!
Warmly,
Laura
Laura Konigsberg
Head of School
lkonigsberg@turningpointschool.org
