A few weeks ago, I went to the Saturday morning "book launch" at Prairie Creek. I'll be honest – I wasn't sure I wanted to go. I often fret about knowing what to say and I didn't know who was going to be there. But I went and I am very glad I did.
Several teachers were there whom I had seen in the early all school pictures but whom I had never met. Each of them told stories about their time teaching at Prairie Creek – stories which sounded a lot like my own. Each of them also said that Prairie Creek had been a dream of sorts – they are not able to teach as progressively in the schools they have moved on to.
As we wandered around the library and into classrooms, Pearl and Joanne mentioned several times that, as they walked in to Prairie Creek for the first time in many years they could tell that it was still the same in many ways. They were struck by what had changed, to be sure (they mourned the lofts) but they were also struck by how much seemed the same. Prairie Creek was still the school they had known so well. It was still the same school they had greeted students in every day. The creative messiness of the classrooms was happily familiar.
1983 is a long time ago. The parents who created the school are now, in many cases, grandparents. The school has gone through many transformations and yet the mission has remained at the heart of what we do. It is that commitment to the mission that made "our" school so instantly recognizable to these teachers as "their" school.
I feel a strong sense of stewardship when I think about my work at Prairie Creek. I think a lot about the plays and campouts and explorations that went on before I became a teacher here. I feel a responsibility to continue those traditions (and perhaps add a few new ones.) There aren't a lot of places where one can teach (and learn) in this way…it's part of my job to preserve and strengthen the school that I (we) have been entrusted with.
This afternoon I am off to our open house where I get to talk about what we do and what we believe – inviting a new generation of parents to join our community. Thank you for all of your support in keeping Prairie Creek such a strong, progressive school for all of these years.
The Rookery 
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