Save the Date: G.R.I.T Day - Tomorrow - Fri, Sept 12

At the start of this school year, Willowwind students are beginning to examine our school wide theme centered around grit and answering our 2014-2015 essential question:

"What is grit and how can grit lead me to individual success?"

As we continue to journey together towards a better understanding of grit, all PreK-6 grade students will be participating in Willowwind's first G.R.I.T Day this Friday, September 12th.  G.R.I.T Day, standing for Grow, Risk, Improve, Try,  will expose students to a variety of challenging activities in a safe environment where they can learn to think outside the box and experience something new as well as the feelings (good and/ or bad) that occur when doing so.

The goal of G.R.I.T Day is to have students begin to understand what grit is and why it is valuable.  Fellow ISACS Head of School Tom Hoerr, from New City School in St. Louis, Missouri encourages educators to consciously and visibly work toward grit with students.  He comments, "it's not something that we do to our students; rather, it is something that we do with them.  An important part of fostering grit is being transparent about why it is necessary and what it takes to get there."  G.R.I.T Day is one way to do so.

While we encourage open communication with your child and are eager for home discussions about grit to continue, please note that G.R.I.T Day is something that K-6 students will learn about in the moment as the day begins.  A part of grit is being able to become flexible and adapt as the environment around you changes.  Please be prepared to facilitate conversations about G.R.I.T Day after the day is complete, but in the meantime please help us provide the natural opportunity to share the news of the day with students in the moment (rather than before hand) allowing them to further develop their ability to be flexible.

Discussing grit, and the power of G.R.I.T Day, allows faculty, students, and families to push and push and push some more.  It may be tough for students, but our actions and grit discussions help them understand motivation and its benefit.  Encourage your children to experience frustration and the feelings that follow.  Help them see that developing resiliency allows them to grow stronger as a person and an individual.  Grit will allow your child to achieve more than they may currently imagine.  For more information about Tom Hoerr's study of grit please check out his new book, Fostering Grit, and as always don't hesitate to ask questions and share your thoughts.  Thank you for your support.