News from Alfonso – 1/16

Dear Friends,

It is great to have a day off to reflect on the progress that America has made in the experiment of democracy, thanks in large part to people like Dr. King. As I shared with students at assembly last week, on August 28, 1963 when King made his “I have a Dream” speech before the Lincoln Memorial, I was 9 years old and had moved three years earler to New York from my birth place Savannah, Georgia. I remember sitting alone in our grubby apartment, watching that speech on black and white television with an improvised clothes hanger antenna, and feeling incredible excitement and hope. I was nine years old but I felt very clearly that America was changing.

But I  also recall these most chilling words when King spoke in Detroit a couple of months earlier:

And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!

Students learn from such an example that one person, working together with others can make a remarkable difference. If you have a moment today, look, with your children, at some of Dr. King’s speeches which are readily available on line.

In more mundane news, in the event of snow you will receive an automated call (to all the phone numbers that we have on file for you) as well as email notification. You can check http://flashalert.net/news.html?id=938 for updates (or intlschool.org/parents – under the Current Events tab, check “Emergency Closures”.

A reminder that this Wednesday evening at 6:30 , the PTO is sponsoring a hands on IB information night for parents.  Please remember to rsvp if you need child care (intlschool.org/childcare).

Drive safely, and I will see you at the corner.

Alfonso
Dr. Alfonso Orsini, Head of School, AOrsini@intlschool.org, 503-226-2496 x122.