Protect His Smile - An Open Letter To My Son's Kindergarten Teacher

September 2016

Dear Mrs. K.  -

It was great to briefly meet you this afternoon at our son’s Kindergarten orientation! Matthew left feeling incredibly positive about the learning environment you have created, and for that my wife and I thank you. We understand how much time and effort went into getting everything ready for the children, and at such a momentous occasion in his young life, your warm and inviting classroom meant the world to him and us!

We wanted to write a quick note to add onto one of the prompts from the Kindergarten questionnaire that you sent home. On it, you had asked parents to share what we hoped would come out of this Kindergarten experience...

The truth is, we only hope for one thing this entire year. Matthew is a compassionate and thoughtful child with big ideas and even bigger heart. He loves learning. He loves school. He looks forward to it each and every day. He’s generous. He’s inquisitive. He’s determined. He’s our heart and soul. Every child in your class is someone else’s entire world. He’s ours.

The only hope we have for this school year is that you will protect his smile.

We hope he walks out of Kindergarten in June with even wider eyes, a more positive perception, and even greater enthusiasm for school than he already has today. For my wife and I, academics are secondary. Sure, we want him to read fluently and develop a conceptual understanding of mathematics. But our priority this year, and every other year he’s enrolled at Jefferson Elementary School, is to nurture his passion and foster his love of learning so he continues to see the classroom as a place full of joy, opportunity, and fun.

Thanks, in advance, for an amazing year!

Sincerely,

Steve Figurelli