New name, same great school

I just wanted to say yeah! to the cool changes I see over at one of my favorite places, a school here in Seattle now known as the Giddens School. Until now its been known as The Happy Medium School, but they recently changed their name in honor of Huda Giddens, who founded the school in 1972. A new name, a new website, and a facelift in store for the buildings and grounds this fall, thanks to the NAIOP Community Enhancement Project!

I first heard about this happenin’ place when assigned a book in grad school, called Starting Small put out by the Southern Poverty Law Center. They were featured in the book because of the great anti-bias work they do there at the preschool (and school age) level.

I only taught there for a year, but in that time I was able to see and experience what a great place it is, not just for kids but for grown-ups, too! I have been volunteering there ever since, and love keeping in touch with old friends and meeting new. It is a very child-centered school, not high-pressured like the others I’ve taught at, and so diverse, in many, many ways. Families of all sorts are welcome and embraced, there is a lot of parent involvement, and a strong community feel to the school. Each child is truly accepted for who they are, they thrive and learn so much, academically and socially. I can only hope my kids will be able to be to know it too, someday…