By Roslyn Benjamin, Head of School
Last year, I shared how we launched Amplify, Nurture, Thrive: Advancing The Children’s School’s Vision and Impact—a bold, community-driven strategic plan to deepen our commitment to joyful learning, diversity, equity, inclusion and justice, and progressive education. Today, I’m proud to reflect on our second year of this three-to-five year journey, celebrating meaningful progress while remaining clear-eyed about the work ahead.
Annually, the program and executive teams review the plan and create goals for the year; this year,, we delivered on everything we set out to do, focusing on four areas in which we further…
- defined the academic journey for our early learning through eighth grade students
- reimagined our Middle Grades program
- advanced our diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
- invested in our faculty and staff’s professional development
Our team stayed true to our mission, strengthening the learning experience for every child and creating more consistency across classrooms and grade levels. While 90% of our eighth graders are admitted to their first-choice high schools, most notably Academe of the Oaks, The Galloway School, The Lovett School, Pace Academy, The Paideia School and Woodward Academy, we know we must continue to innovate to ensure our students are well prepared to thrive in high school and beyond.
Academic Excellence: Building Stronger Foundations
We made great strides in aligning our curriculum across subject areas. Faculty worked collaboratively to map out the scope and sequence of what students learn year-to-year, ensuring a smoother, more cohesive progression. This alignment reinforces both academic and social-emotional learning, with continued integration of Responsive Classroom and Building Character & Community (BCC) approaches.
In literacy, we updated our writing and reading units to work hand-in-hand, helping students deepen comprehension and apply skills more fluidly across genres. In math, we introduced the Developing Roots curriculum in our early learning and kindergarten classrooms—a joyful, play-based program rooted in Singapore Math that builds foundational understanding. Due to the success of the program this year, we will extend it into first grade in August.
In October, we launched our first Math Night, where families experienced their children’s math learning journey. From kindergarteners building number sense through games tied to our Developing Roots curriculum, to second graders teaching mental math strategies, select grade-levels offered hands-on, engaging insights into their math explorations. Fourth and fifth graders invited families to solve multi-step problems using the CPA (Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract) approach, while eighth graders demonstrated the power of algebra tiles to make abstract concepts more tangible. The evening showcased how math at TCS is meaningful, playful and deeply connected across grade levels.
Reimagining Student Growth and Progress
This year, we began refining how we communicate student progress to families. We analyzed and strengthened our progress reports to provide a more holistic view of each child’s growth. The new reports include a dedicated social-emotional learning section, streamlined teacher comments embedded within each academic area, and feedback grounded in the four Cs—creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking—reflecting the core of our project-based learning approach.
These changes not only make reports clearer and easier to navigate, but highlight the full scope of your child’s development as a learner and as a community member.
Expanding Middle Grade Learning Opportunities
Our middle school students are experiencing more voice and choice through new specialist elective options, including textiles in art, modern band in music, and digital storytelling in STEAM. These courses are already fostering deeper engagement and ownership in their learning journeys. The solidifying of traditions, such as The World Peace Game in seventh grade and the eighth grade trip to coastal South Carolina tied to their study of the Gullah-Geechee culture also foster joy amongst the Middle Grades students.
Celebrating Community and DEIJ
In the second year of our strategic plan, we’ve continued to embed diversity, equity, inclusion and justice throughout our curriculum, equipping teachers with materials and tools to highlight diverse voices, perspectives and histories. Across classrooms, students are learning to take responsibility for their impact, build empathy and engage in meaningful conversations about difference and justice. Through athletics, community activities, and daily interactions, we continue to create spaces where every student can bring their authentic self to school.
Investing in Our Faculty
Professional development remained a priority, with faculty growing their expertise in literacy, math instruction and project-based learning. This investment is already paying dividends. Students are benefiting from more consistent, responsive instruction that nurtures both academic skills and social-emotional well-being. We also began developing a faculty evaluation system to further ensure a high-quality, cohesive learning experience from classroom to classroom.
Looking Ahead
As I close out my time as Head of School, I do so with deep pride in how far we’ve come—and immense optimism for what’s ahead. In year three of Amplify, Nurture, Thrive, our faculty will bring our newly aligned curriculum maps to life, using them to deepen cross-subject connections and support each child’s academic and social-emotional growth.
Faculty and staff will continue to evolve how we assess and share student progress, ensuring our reporting reflects the whole child—mind, heart, and character. Our middle grades program will expand with even more opportunities for student voice, leadership, and belonging, reinforcing the joy and purpose that define learning at TCS.
TCS will also strengthen our commitment to academic excellence through professional development in culturally responsive practices and Responsive Classroom, creating spaces where every child feels seen, valued and inspired to grow.
It’s been an honor to walk alongside this extraordinary community. I’m confident that TCS will continue to thrive—anchored in mission, guided by purpose and propelled by joy.
