Brenda has informed the Greenwood community that she has accepted a new position as Head of School at Friends School of Wilmington in North Carolina beginning in the summer of 2012. This represents an exciting opportunity for her and we congratulate her on this appointment. Brenda has been an outstanding leader of Greenwood Friends for the past 4 years and has greatly strengthened our school; she will be missed.

The coming transition in leadership is important and the Board of Trustees is happy to announce that Cindy Schultz is wonderfully suited to step into the role of Interim Head of School in 2012-2013. Her familiarity with Greenwood Friends School from her fifteen years as parent, volunteer, and Board member, her strengths as an administrator, and her love for children will ensure that next year Greenwood’s growth and vitality will continue to flourish.

The trustees invite all members of the Greenwood community to a discussion on February 7 at 7 pm in the school library. Brenda, Cindy and many Trustees will be available to answer any questions about the process that is unfolding. This is also an opportunity to congratulate Brenda on her professional success and to welcome Cindy into the interim role.

Greenwood Friends School is always striving to improve, while maintaining a commitment to established educational practices that succeed. An important next step in our educational approach is to expand our mixed-age classrooms in the Lower School so that we gain the benefits of this approach, while containing class size to 16-18 students. For 2012-2013 and beyond our classrooms will be Pre-primary (ages 3-4), Lower School (K/1, 2/3, and 4/5 classrooms), and Middle School (6-8). We will continue to have one lead teacher in each classroom and will add teaching assistants to our ranks as needed. Read more below for the benefits of mixed-age classrooms.