Reflecting on the Past to Ground Us in the Present

Dear FJECC Families,

Let's take a moment and pause as we ride the incredible energy of our first full week of school, which started on Monday.

In the Jewish faith, we have a built-in commitment to looking back even as we stand in a moment preparing to move forward. Reflection on the past helps ground us in the present and that helps us understand our intentions for the future in deeper ways. “Future” in this instance means as soon as tomorrow, as far away as next year and everything in between. As we get closer to the Jewish New Year (which falls in early October this year), I’ll write more about what observance of that holiday season looks and feels (and tastes) like. In the meantime, let’s momentarily honor some summer moments before they become very distant memories.

One of my highlights of the summer was finally having the opportunity to swim in the Charles River. Yes, with the sounds of the Standells’ “Dirty Water” in my head, I joined a group of folks who registered for this summer’s City Splash event. The Charles River Conservancy sponsors the city splash and it is their mission “to make the Charles River and its parks a well-maintained network of natural urban places that invite and engage all in their use and stewardship.” I am proud that FJECC - and particularly the Blue Room - have been deemed stewards of the Muddy River (an integral part of the Charles River parks system). This came about via our connection with Caroline Reeves and her recognition of our weekly trips to the Muddy River and the children’s growing awareness of its beauty, as well as their desire to learn more about this amazing natural resource just steps from our school.

Another highlight of the summer was the opportunity to send Misty O’Brien (Blue Room teacher) to the Nature Explore Leadership Institute in Nebraska in July. Misty returned from the institute armed with renewed commitment for helping lead FJECC as we rededicate ourselves to creating rich learning experiences for children in the outdoor classroom. You will hear so much more about our efforts in the coming weeks and months!

Allow me one more summer moment: one morning in July I was sitting in my kayak on a pond in Western Massachusetts. All was quiet and still around me with just a bit of mist coming up off the water. Then I heard a loud thwack. I turned in the direction of the sound, but could not determine the source. I began to paddle away and then heard it again. Determined to find out what had made the noise, I sat in my kayak, held my paddle still and waited. I waited longer and with more patience than I had felt in a very long time. Finally, I heard the noise again and saw a large flat tail reach up out of the water and come down - splat! - very hard on the surface. A head popped up and I realized I was watching a beaver playing in the water. All by itself, in the quiet ease of a summer pond, this animal was swimming and playing and being its best beaver self. This was the moment in a long and sometimes challenging summer in which my attitude and attention shifted from the burdens I was carrying towards the hope and renewal I knew awaited me in September.

And here we are.

Welcome to the new school year.
Shalom, 
Amy