June 18, 2015
If you’ve ever hiked through a mountain range, you know the sensation of climbing a peak and being able to see, for the first time, the entire path that lies ahead. It is a moment of pure excitement and anticipation. Then, having celebrated your progress, you begin the descent and carry on toward your destination, inspired by what has passed and motivated by what is yet to come.
We are at that moment in the Soaring Beyond/En plein essor campaign. We have reached a new height, and we can see the future from here. We can see transformations in the learning environment across all four branches of the school. We can see projects getting underway this summer. We can see our students supported, challenged and prepared for life like never before.
But we know that there is a fair distance to go before we arrive. We have a year to complete our campaign by raising the remaining funds to fully realize our vision.
Junior School parents Sarah Mitchell and Eric Siebert are helping by providing a wonderful opportunity to double the impact of a gift. Sarah and Eric have generously pledged to match all donations to the Learning Forum made by Junior School families prior to June 30, up to $25,000. Now is the time to make a gift in support of this project.
At West Campus and in the Junior School, Learning Forum renovations will get underway this summer. The Senior School Learning Forum renovation, one of the largest projects funded by the campaign, can be completed by Fall 2016 if we rally together to achieve our goal.
The Program Enrichment fund is progressing well but requires further support. This fund provides for learning technology enhancements, facility upgrades and program innovations over and above school operations. The priorities for 2015-16 focus on instructional technology upgrades and musical instrument purchases across all branches, athletics program enhancements as well as art and music studio renovations in the Senior School.
The Entrance Scholarships program opens TFS to exceptional young people not otherwise able to attend our wonderful school. Our immediate goal is for the first scholarship recipients to begin Grade 7 in September 2016. However, we still need to grow the program. Parent leaders play a key role, and we will also be making a special appeal to alumni.
We are grateful for the support received so far to move us to this height. From here, our $9 million goal is within sight. With your help, we can continue forward and arrive at our destination, exhilarated and proud of all we have done for TFS and our children.