News

Dear CWA Community,

Thank you to all who participated in this week’s Listening Sessions. Thank you to the administrators, faculty and staff, parents, grandparents, alums, former faculty, and former trustees for sharing your feedback. Your voices, thoughts, and feelings were heartfelt and insightful. It was a privilege to listen.

More Listening Sessions will be held in August for those who were unable to attend this week. This survey is an additional tool for sharing in a convenient and confidential setting, and it will remain open through at least mid-August. More details on that below.

We recognize that some members of our community may have left these sessions feeling “undone” or incomplete. Listening for understanding without providing answers or context can feel uncomfortable. However, we also understand that there are a lot of voices to listen to – some perspectives that we may expect and some that we may not. In order to ensure we are listening and hearing fully, capturing all of the information and ideas possible, and offering opportunities to all who wish to share, this listening was an important first step. But it is only the first step.

Once we have had time to meaningfully synthesize and interpret the information, identifying themes and questions, we look forward to reconvening with the CWA community to report back, ensuring that important themes are shared and concerns are aired, incorporated in future plans, and shared wholly with the Interim Head of School so he is informed and ready to lead. These recommendations from our community will be incorporated into plans and inform the strategy of how we move forward – together.

We share a deep love for CWA with all of you. We are Tarriers, spanning a wide geography and spectrum of beliefs, but connected by this special place. It is on this foundation of common caring and dedication, and our mission of “active, joyful learning” that we continue to build.

In other news…

• Interim Head of School Chris Gorycki (Go-rik-ē) reports for duty next Friday, August 2. We look forward to you getting to know Chris Gorycki more fully. He has his own unique story and personal passion for working in Independent Schools. Big thanks again to the staff, faculty, administrator, families and students who participated in the interview and selection process. Chris is all about accessibility and is looking forward to getting out and about on campus to meet and engage with members of the community. We’re excited for you to meet him.
  
  Read last week’s announcement of Chris Goryki’s appointment here.

• Members of our community are invited and encouraged to take Reciprocity Consulting’s new online survey. This survey is designed for those who are unable to participate in listening sessions, but all are welcome to participate. Contact information is optional. These responses will be included in the summary of what was heard from the listening sessions overall. The data collected will help us understand our community as well as guide us in the search for the permanent Head of School. This survey is scheduled to close on Friday, August 16, and the link will continue to be included in future updates. Thank you for taking time to share your thoughts and recommendations.

• More good news: The school has hired an experienced new Chief Financial Officer who will start on Tuesday, August 20. A separate communication with more information will be sent soon.

Please feel free to share this and future updates with anyone who might be interested in CWA happenings. Alumni and parents of alumni who aren’t receiving school communications but would like to may provide their updated contact information to the school. Alumni click here. Parents of alumni click here. As always, please feel free to contact us at feedback@cwatrustees.com with any comments, questions, or concerns.

We hope that you are having a beautiful, restful, adventurous, enjoyable summer. Go Tarriers!

Sincerely,

The CWA Board of Trustees

Aimee Allen (P ’19)

Drew Bamford ’91

Adam Blakney ’00 (P ’33, ’32)

Dr. Guillermo Chacon (P ’34, ’11)

Emily Happy (P ’32)

Hillary Hearn (P ’36, ’38)

Dr. David Hirschberg ’80 (P ’17)

Toby Murray ’71 (P ’02, GP ’38)

Ben Sclair ’88 (P ’24, ’19, ’17)

Nicole Stice (P ’29, ’27, ’24)

Sarah Weyerhaeuser (P ’11, ’09, ’07)

Trevor Will ’93 (P ’27, ’24)

EXCELLENCE • COMPASSION • INTEGRITY • RESPECT • PERSEVERANCE