Taylor School Reflections

As Phoebe's time at The Taylor School draws to a close, I have been thinking about all the things she has done during her stay there. Obviously, she has learned a lot, but her learning has been outside the classroom as well.

It is because of Taylor that she got to try Tai Kwon Do, design computer games, play chess, do Zumba, and build a robot. She learned about the Stock Market and microbusinesses. She participated in the Olympics of the Visual Arts, raised money for animal shelters, worked at a food pantry, studied animal habitats, and cleaned up parks.

In school, she learned how to play the recorder, make ceramics, study various countries and cultures and periods of history. She has been in several plays and has sung for audiences. Her artwork has been on display. She has been Amelia Earhart, Guinevere, and a New World explorer--I forget which one, off the top of my head. She also competed in the Spelling Bee and, this year, the Geography Bee. She has even written books.

She has gone on two overnights to Camp Chingachook, where she canoed and did rope courses. She was actively involved in the fundraising for that trip as well, overseeing two bake sales and helping with the can and bottle collections. She has cooked for the Harvest Feast and other events. She has shared vegan foods and what it means to be vegan with her class. She has taken a river cruise on the Hudson and visited the Saratoga Battlefield.

She has made friendships that will hopefully continue once she and her friends are at different schools. Most recently, she has had crushes--and been the object of crushes.

Phoebe started at The Taylor School when she was three. Nine years later, she is getting ready to move on to a new school and new adventures. It is amazing to think about all the things she has done and learned in the past nine years--and I am sure the above list is only scratching the surface. Next week she will walk through that flowery archway for the last time---where did the time go?! But, no matter what she does in the future, this school will always have a special place in her heart.