"This is fun!" declared every adult who stepped into our classroom yesterday afternoon. They weren't wrong - but what they were witnessing went far deeper than simple entertainment.

Our students were engaged in sophisticated scientific and engineering thinking, all while being completely absorbed in the joy of creation.

Today during Springwell Circle, we held space for students to process the recent election results. Naturally, some students expressed frustration with the outcome, asking, "How could anyone vote for Trump?" I reminded them that, even though we are in Maryland, we can’t assume everyone in our community supported one candidate over the other; that at Springwell, we value people even if they think differently than we do, and that is one of the things that makes our community so special.

At Springwell, we believe that a thriving learning environment starts with a supportive community. As we kick off the school year, our teachers reflect on key questions that shape our approach to education:

• What makes an environment safe for learning?

• What do you need to feel safe and be yourself at Springwell?

• What promises can you make to your colleagues to create a thriving workplace?

• What must you promise yourself to thrive at Springwell?

Are you grappling with a choice between traditional academic rigor and progressive, inquiry-based learning that fosters creativity and independence?

At Springwell School, we believe you shouldn’t have to choose between the two. We blend a strong foundation of core academics with an engaging inquiry-based curriculum.