Every fall brings the rush of fresh ideas for community action from students, faculty and parents, demonstrating just how diverse, interesting and fervent our community's passions are. This school year began with the particularly challenging national need to confront the reality of Katrina's and Rita's effects, which resulted in the largest displacement of Americans since the Civil War. As our children grapple with how to contribute to relief efforts in effective and meaningful ways, I want to update you on their endeavors and encourage you to consider others.

Student initiatives began to unfold on the second day of school with a large meeting of upper school students who plan to organize several fundraising activities throughout the year, focused on both national hurricane relief and a continuing commitment to local needs. They researched organizations to determine which ones delivered 100% of contributions received to relief efforts. They chose America's Second Harvest, the nation's food bank network, and then ran a tremendously successful carwash under the leadership of science department chair Tanya Vinogradov, netting over $600 in approximately three hours.

Meanwhile, Dan Jones' 5-6 class led a middle school effort to collect fully-supplied book bags. The turnaround on this project had to be very quick, but they managed to collect close to 30 stuffed book bags in less than a week! The lower school plans to focus its efforts on bake sales, or contribute to drives in the other divisions. In addition, many of our students are involved in individual activities outside of school, as well as those through other organizations to which they belong, and we applaud and support their commitment. We will keep you apprised of other outreach efforts that are such a natural part of our children's lives here at school, and so clearly reflect the values their families bring to this community.

PDS has joined many other independent schools in offering one-year placements to children of families displaced by Katrina and Rita through a posting on the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Web site. So far, few independent school families have ventured this far north, but that may change. Another way we would welcome children of displaced families is if any of our own families offer shelter or "adopt a family" for the year for the purposes of resettlement or temporary accommodation. Please let us know if any of you are pursuing this and how we can help.

And speaking of NAIS, we were delighted to learn that the organization is heavily engaged in the ongoing discussions on what can be done at the federal level to assist schools and families displaced by Katrina. NAIS is asking member schools, like PDS, to contact members of Congress to gain their support for the equitable participation of private schools in any type of hurricane relief legislation. Accord ing to a recent NAIS memo, "by encouraging 'equitable access' to federal funds, NAIS is joining with the private school community to address our concerns for rebuilding New Orleans and helping displaced families." We are looking into this further; NAIS assures us that such involvement "does not compromise our counsel to be wary of financial entanglements that may bring regulations."

As we conclude our curriculum nights this week, I would like to invite you to ongoing discussions about the education of your children and specifically on the nature and direction of progressive education in this century. At curriculum nights I have focused my remarks on what is needed to prepare our children to be productive, independent, committed and fulfilled adults who are actively engaged in their community.

Please join me for the next "Meet Liz Vinogradov" scheduled for Thursday, October 20, at 7 p.m. in Kenyon, where I look forward to your questions and enriching company!

Sincerely,

Liz Vinogradov
Acting Head of School