"Our human compassion binds us, the one to the other - not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future." ~Nelson Mandela
Dear Caedmon Community,
Never have I felt the power and necessity to seek a quote that will give me clarity and guidance, after the week we have experienced. As it happens, our plan was to begin to introduce our Fifth grade graduating class to the entire community. As I think about Mandela's wisdom above, indeed I have to focus on hope and the future. I have to keep my eyes and my heart on human compassion, or I am afraid I will give up.
What better way to focus on hope and the future than to look at the bright, shining eyes of the young people we are sending out to change the world, following their time at Caedmon. I promise you, and I think it will be very clear as you read about them, that the Caedmon Class of 2022 is a group of individuals: at times loving, funny, serious, intense, creative, caring, demanding, and many other fine qualities.
I know that each of them is destined to become a leader of some sort, and will be instrumental in asking the world for more compassion.
In the coming weeks, the Fifth grade will wrap up insightful projects about Ancient China, collect data on the lunch program for their final math unit, write memoirs about a small "moment" in their lives, and next Friday, Caedmon alum and writer, Sabrina Kleckner, will pay them a visit. They will perform Shrek The Musical next Monday evening, and on Wednesday morning, June 15th, we will celebrate their graduation at All Souls Church. Not a moment allowed for "senioritis!"
Please join me in honoring our Fifth grade. Let their joy, excitement, and nervousness about taking the next step in their lives bring you hope and comfort, and inspire the desire to continue to move forward.
Matthew
