04/20 - Update

Written By Stephen Mefford

Dear Friends, 

I spent the morning with the Sandy Spring Friends Meeting and our Coalition leaders in silence at 9 AM and 11 AM and found myself getting familiar again with peace for the first time since Monday. It was a gift I am grateful for. 

We understand you likely have questions that need answers, and we are still early in this process, with more questions than answers ourselves, but each accomplishment brings new resolve.This week, our Coalition is focused on two key priorities: working collaboratively with the board and establishing 'Friends of SSFS, Inc.' – a sustainable foundation that will allow us to support the school through this evolution and beyond. While we may not have all the answers yet, we're committed to transparent communication as we build this path forward together, and if we do not take good care of this organization we’ve created overnight, it will not be sustainable for the needs of the future. 

I’d like to share some of the words from our Coalition members who are inspiring joy, calm, and a steady course. These comments and reflections have stuck with us, and we’d like to share them with you, too. 

Vanessa Camilleri shared another parent’s thought about the idea of a wildebeest, which is that “A wildebeest by itself is gawky, vulnerable, and unwieldy. But a herd of wildebeest is a practically unstoppable force. The Coalition has rallied us back into a herd. Wildebeests in nature survive because the herd is too much to take down.”

“The land wants to be a school. Together, we can do this.” Janet Gibian Hough '69

General and what we need

 What we are doing 

  • Creating operations and systems that are sustainable and do not require us to be engaged 23 hours per day

  • Organizing and structuring committees with expectations, accountability, and support

  • Creating roles and responsibilities for core leadership, supportive leadership, and advisors

  • Establishing communication expectations and values so that we are united in effective and efficient decision making during moments of intensity and crisis 

Shoutouts

  • Sandy Spring Friends Meeting

  • Elise, Stephen, and Andy our official tech committee!

  • Vanessa Camilleri (parent!) for truly coming through on critical tasks with exactly the info we need

  • Spirit Committee because this keeps us energized

  • Theo for unwavering support, great communication, and patience 

  • Carrie Fletcher ‘94 (parent!) for endless resources and love

I would like to leave this message to reflect on who is watching us as we enter this period of immense discord in the community: the children.  I say children versus students because I want to be clear that these humans are in their childhood. This is the most impactful time of their lives, and it will set the tone for much of their decision-making and daily habits as adults. Perhaps we should take a moment to self-reflect to ensure we provide them with steady leadership and the ability to engage in discord to promote growth, so that they can do so when they become adults. 

Heather ‘00
Coalition Team
Friends of SSFS

Stephen Mefford
Next

4/19/25 - Update