Betty Chu Pryor, Lower School Head
Post Date: September 27, 2024

(These remarks were prepared for lower school curriculum night and have been edited for length.)

Our lower school division represents pre-kindergarten through grade five and includes a wide range of developmental stages and milestones. A few weeks ago, Brendan announced to the faculty that the theme of the two curriculum nights this year would be “getting back to basics.” As I thought about this, it seemed daunting to distill seven years of teaching and learning into essential guiding principles relevant to all 197 lower school students. However, a focus soon came to mind inspired by events that captivated many of us this past summer.

In our household, my husband and I limit the time our two children spend in front of the television. I must admit this summer, we made an exception for the Olympics. We tuned in almost every day across those two exciting weeks. The Pryor clan was mesmerized by the athletic pursuits in Paris. Together, our family discovered new Olympic sports such as skateboarding, sport climbing, and break dancing. And we cheered on international athletes as they made history and broke records in old favorites such as basketball, track and field, and swimming.

The Olympics inherently offer enduring lessons. The lower school experience at Belmont Day similarly lays the foundation for developing critical lifelong skills in our students. In addition to the curricular content you will hear about tonight, you will also learn about the building blocks in your child’s personal and social developmental growth. Tonight, I will touch upon some of these valuable skills, which were also on full display in Paris.

Perseverance and resilience. We heard accounts of athletes who relentlessly pursued their goals and overcame physical and emotional setbacks in the process. Two of the most decorated US gymnasts, Simone Biles and Suni Lee, famously came back after hiatuses from competition despite nagging self-doubt and doubts from others. Whether it is rebuilding a block structure that has fallen down, bouncing back after forgetting a line in a play, learning how to read, or embarking on their first overnight trip away from home, our lower school students will develop and strengthen their tenacity muscles as they take risks and face various moments of adversity in these formative years of their education.

Being adaptable. The athletes in Paris confronted unexpected obstacles such as bad weather, polluted water, devastating injuries, and last-minute schedule changes. During their tenure in the lower school, your children will also learn that things do not always go as planned and that they may need to pivot at any given moment. The goal is to remain flexible and to adjust one’s approach based on what is within one’s control.

Teamwork and collaboration. These interpersonal skills are essential in competitions such as synchronized swimming or relay races that depend on group coordination and the ability to work together. It was also evident how encouragement and guidance from others—teammates, families, and coaches—is crucial even for solo events. Tonight, you will hear out about class jobs in pre-k and kindergarten, the notion of 28+3=1 in second grade, or “pulling the next one up” in fourth grade. All of these examples help our lower school students understand in developmentally appropriate ways that individual contributions are critical to achieving collective goals and that having a supportive community is the key to any team’s success.

Integrity and sportsmanship. Memorable and heartwarming moments from the Paris games abound. I’ll never forget when He Bing Jiao of China held up her silver medal in one hand and a Spanish flag pin in the other to pay tribute to Spain’s Carolina Marin, a respected opponent who had to withdraw after an injury. Or when American swimmer Katie Ledecky invited her teammate Paige Madden to join her on the podium spot during the national anthem. At Belmont Day, we strive to build good character by internalizing our six core values of respect, honesty, responsibility, caring, joy, and excellence. Even our youngest learners will demonstrate these ideals in action in the classroom, in our studios, on the stage, and on the fields.

Throughout your child’s lower school journey, all of these lessons are skillfully delivered and executed by the talented faculty on stage with me tonight. In the same way that the Olympic athletes rely on their coaches’ guidance, expertise, and encouragement, this village of caring and committed educators supports our students. And since you may think I am a little biased, I offer you a testimonial provided to me by a student. Recently, a sixth grader stopped by my office to say hello and catch up. I asked what she missed most about lower school. Without hesitation, she declared, “It’s the teachers, definitely the teachers.” Tonight, I am thrilled that you will get to visit your child’s classroom and get a glimpse into their daily experience with this remarkable faculty.

As you explore your child’s classroom, I encourage you to look around, to be inspired, and to ask questions. When I conduct my weekly rounds in the lower school, I am constantly learning from your children and their teachers. I want to emphasize that our doors are always open tonight and beyond. We believe in transparent communication and active collaboration. If you have a quick wonder or would like to discuss your child’s progress in more detail, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teachers anytime. I am also here to support your needs. Your insights as parents are invaluable, and together we look forward to creating a meaningful home-school partnership with each of you.