Dear Ivywood Community,
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits after a restful spring break. We are pleased to connect with you regarding many exciting updates in our school community.
Head of School Update
A vital component of the pursuit for a principal required that the candidate not only understands the importance of Classical pedagogy but simultaneously inspires a passion for wonder in both our students and staff. With that, the Board is elated to congratulate Mrs. Kayla Cruthers, our new Head of School. As many of you know, Mrs. Cruthers has been a vital community member since our founding. Her commitment to student growth and development is unparalleled, and we look forward to seeing her passion for supporting students continue to flourish as Head of School. This appointment comes with the full support of the Board of Directors, Choice Schools, and the Hillsdale K-12 team.
Building Updates
Progress in new build planning has continued, but our ability to begin construction has been at a long pause due to permit approval needed from Wayne County. After submitting our application in July 2023, we are thrilled to announce we have now officially received permit approval from the County. Clearing and rough grading at the property will begin during the week of April 8th. Next time you drive down Ridge Road just south of N. Territorial Road, look for the Ivywood sign marking our school’s future home. Further information regarding a groundbreaking ceremony will be coming soon in upcoming board communications, project specific communications and the Vine newsletter.
Hillsdale Site-Visit
The Hillsdale Teacher Support team reviews Ivywood (and all BCSI member schools) biannually. These visits serve to ensure that schools are implementing the model with fidelity and to provide coaching opportunities for the schools to improve. The team at Ivywood uses these visits to get feedback from Hillsdale on areas where we believe our program needs improvement.
We had the pleasure of hosting the Hillsdale Teacher Support Team on campus for a second time this year in March. The Ivywood Leadership Team has been working diligently to implement suggestions made in the first site visit report. The staff has had the opportunity for professional development, classroom observations, and teacher feedback based on the comments received.
The Hillsdale team saw improvement in several areas, including tightening school uniforms, protecting instructional time in the upper school, and using questions during instruction. The report also highlighted several exemplary teachers whose classical pedagogy and classroom procedures were worthy of mention.
In the most recent site visit report, the Hillsdale team provided feedback on classroom procedures, the use of technology, classroom schedules, and disciplinary follow through. Mrs. Cruthers and her team are working diligently on revising the student handbook for next school year, which will aid in setting clear expectations for students and families going forward, incorporating suggestions from Hillsdale.
We believe that the parent is the student’s first educator, and as we prioritize the richness and rigor of classical academics, we will continue to reach out in partnership for support as we strive for respect and decorum in the classroom and hallways. As a learning community, we must all consistently promote virtue as the cornerstone of our scholars’ academic journey inside and outside the classroom. As a board, we support Mrs. Cruthers in championing this effort and effectively maintaining a respectful shared learning community.
“The Great Build Up” Annual Gala for Ivywood’s New Home
As a reminder, Ivywood’s annual Gala is fast approaching on Saturday, April 27. We hope to see you there! You can purchase tickets and bid on the silent auction at the following link: https://one.bidpal.net/thegreatbuildup1920/welcome. The last day to purchase tickets is April 12, 2024. If you are unable to attend the Gala but would like to make a donation, you can also do so at the link provided here. We thank you greatly for your consideration and generosity!
In partnership,
Ivywood Board of Directors