A Letter to the Community on Civility During an Election Year

Dear Forest Ridge Community,

What a wonderful first week of school! I have enjoyed seeing our students and families once again and I am reminded of the importance of the values we share as a Sacred Heart community.

As we approach what is shaping up to be a particularly charged election season, I want to take a moment to reflect on the importance of upholding our Sacred Heart values within our school community. Our mission calls us to educate our students to lead with courage, confidence and compassion, and this mission is more important than ever during times of societal division.

At Forest Ridge, we hold a deep commitment to fostering intellectual values. We encourage our students to engage with diverse perspectives, to question thoughtfully, and to form their own informed opinions. This intellectual rigor is a cornerstone of their education and prepares them to be active, thoughtful participants in our democracy. However, with the privilege of this education also comes the responsibility to contribute positively to our community. We must ensure that our school remains a space where a diversity of perspectives can be respectfully shared and where differences in opinion are met with curiosity and understanding, rather than division.

As the adults of this community, we play a crucial role in modeling this behavior for our children. Our Sacred Heart tradition calls us to build an inclusive, compassionate community. This means that, even in the midst of political disagreements, we are called to respect the dignity of every person and to approach each other with kindness and empathy.

In an effort to support our students and faculty, we have developed the Forest Ridge Principles for Civil Discourse.

I encourage you to read and discuss the Principles of Civil Discourse with your child(ren) and talk about the importance of these values, both within our school and in the wider world. Let us work together to ensure that Forest Ridge remains a place where every student feels safe, valued, and empowered to express herself.

Thank you for your continued partnership in this mission. Together, we can guide our students to become the thoughtful, compassionate leaders the world needs.

With gratitude,

 

 

Mary Rose Guerin
Head of School