Even though I am the founder and headmaster of Sparhawk School, I am myself just a part of this fabulous project, and I count myself fortunate to be so. I am surrounded by wonderful people, each engaged in a symphony of purposes that results in a school where children are honored and ideas are celebrated. Our mission is replete with delight and challenge, and it has as its chief measure of success our students' expressions of engagement, growth, and confidence.

Sparhawk, established in l994, is growing in leaps and bounds; and like a child, Sparhawk has grown through stages: sometimes awkwardly, with lessons to learn from experience, and at other times, with breathtaking ease, poignancy, and grace. As children are guided by parents, so our institution is guided by principles that keep us on track.

Those principles begin our formal philosophical statement and are used in our practice - in everything from long- range planning and curriculum development, to daily interactions with individual children. Those principles are: "Respect for children and trust in their inherent enthusiasm for learning...." These two tenets, respect and trust, determine the design of our educational processes and objectives. "Our purpose is to cultivate independent thinking, protect children's natural joy and ease in learning, and to preserve each child's sense of creativity, curiosity, and self esteem."

We can claim some credit for cultivating, protecting and preserving these treasures, and sometimes for restoring them, but I also thank each parent for entrusting us with their special young person. It is an honor to be guides on their journey.

I walk through the days of my life here with a celebratory feeling of joy. Gathered here at Sparhawk School are some of the finest students, parents, and faculty on the planet. I believe it. I celebrate it every day.

Louise Stilphen

Headmaster