Fostering a Culture of Love, Care, and Respect

Dear Students and Parents,

As we navigate the joys and challenges of school life together, I feel compelled to share a heartfelt concern. Our school is not just a place of learning—it is a community, a space where we strive to nurture the values of love, care, and respect for one another. Yet, I’ve observed moments where this shared culture has been strained, and I want to address it with honesty and hope for a positive way forward.

In a school full of life and adventure, things happen. Kids play, take risks, and sometimes fall or get hurt. They climb trees, bounce on trampolines, and explore the world around them. Children test boundaries, act out, and occasionally say hurtful things to each other. At times, staff may make mistakes or fall short of a parent’s expectations. These moments are part of life in a vibrant, growing community. What matters most is not that these things happen—they are inevitable—but how we respond to them.

I ask us all to reflect on this: Do we react with anger, shouting, and blame? Do we point fingers or threaten lawsuits? Or do we pause, share our concerns constructively, and work together to find solutions, repair, and move forward? The choice we make has a profound impact not only on the school but also on our children, who watch and learn from how we, as adults, handle difficult situations.

Jonathan Haidt, in his book The Coddling of the American Mind, discusses how our reactions to stress and uncertainty shape the next generation. He notes that children absorb the anxieties and pressures of their parents, and this can amplify their own fears and insecurities. When we meet challenges with grace, collaboration, and mutual respect, we teach our children resilience, empathy, and the power of community.

I also want to highlight how these dynamics affect our dedicated staff. They work tirelessly to support your children, often going above and beyond to create a safe and nurturing environment. It is incredibly disheartening for them when they are met with rude language, shouting, or threats. These interactions take a toll—not just on morale but on our ability to retain the skilled, compassionate people who make this school special.

Here, we strive to live by a different set of values. We aim to speak with each other, not about each other. We give constructive feedback, but we do so kindly. We teach our children to embrace safe risks, to learn from their mistakes, and to repair relationships when harm is done. As adults, we must model the same behavior.

Let us come together as a community that chooses understanding over judgment, collaboration over conflict, and respect over blame. Let us hold ourselves and each other accountable in a way that reflects the love and care we wish to see in our children.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we can continue to create a school where everyone—students, parents, and staff—feels valued, supported, and respected.

Warm regards,
Rikke