The Center School Never Leaves You

Dear Friends,

Yesterday was the school picnic hosted by the Justice, Equity, and Diversity and Parent Union Committees. About 30-40 families came, which was a great turn out! Thanks to parents KC Ceccarossi and Lynn Valle for the popsicle element! I had a delicious watermelon one that went well with sweet conversation and watching the sweaty Gaga players. I made the rounds a bit, but feeling shy, which is my MO, I swiftly plopped down on a blanket belonging to Trang (mom) and Kevin (Mup) Nguyen. I saw an opportunity for some much-needed bonding and I took it.

Trang and Kevin moved from Vietnam to Greenfield in the summer of 2022 and, that August, joined the loving Lumber Primes family. We all felt it was quite exciting to have a family coming to us from so far away, from a country most of us have not visited before, bringing their language and traditions with them. We couldn't wait to learn more. Trang found out about the Center School from Jonathan Daen, who interestingly, was one of the previous owners of our campus property, who is also a local businessperson, as well as an alumni parent of the Center School. She was going to work at his company here in the Valley, which also has a branch in Vietnam, and he was helping her relocate. Jonathan thought, what better school for Trang's dear 6 year old, Kevin, than the Center School? And he was right. It was a match made in heaven. Trang and Kevin jumped in feet first as exemplary community members, showing up at every grounds day and other Center School event they could make it to, always ready to help, appreciate, or whatever else was needed. Trang, at the time a single mom working full time, made the herculean move halfway around the world, and subsequent culture shift, seem like a breeze. (I mean, she's so brave, a total badass.)

Speaking to her yesterday, we reflected together about how it's been going here for her family. Especially reflective because, sadly, she and Kevin will be moving back to Asia (this time to Penang in Malaysia) in just a few weeks, just two days after school gets out. This is sad news for us, which I tried not to whine about to Trang, because it promises to be a very happy next chapter for her: She's engaged to a guy she met at the fish business! And I must face it, Kevin will be happy too because, well, that's Kevin in a nutshell. Kevin is a bright, loving, energetic ball of curiosity. He will, like he did here, find his people wherever he lands. And in the meantime, Trang has promised they'll stay in touch. She teared up, as did I, when she said this. And then she said, "This has been just the perfect place for Kevin, and for me. I never worried for one minute about him when he was at school, knowing how much he loved it and knowing that he was in safe hands. We don't want to leave the Center School. In fact, Kevin asked me if there's a Center School in Malaysia!"

We both laughed at this and wished it could be true.I was able to muster an "I'm sure there are wonderful schools there..." But what I should have also said, which I will say here now (hopefully Trang reads her Bulletin) is, "The Center School never leaves you. It's always there. In the All School songs. In the friends you made. Within the forest and school walls of this loving learning environment. It's in you."

Wishing Kevin and Trang a terrific journey and feeling grateful for the time they passed here with us on Bernardston Road.

And send it into the world,

Charlie Spencer, Head of School