If you build it | Ambleside School

Dear Parents,

Back in high school, when I was in 10th grade, I read Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella, along with the rest of my English 10 class. I remember the book fondly, but there was one little problem. For some reason, which I cannot figure out, my teacher showed us the film adaptation of the book, Field of Dreams, before she assigned us to read it. What’s wrong with that you may wonder? Nothing at all if you like Kevin Costner’s voice. From the first page to the last, it was his voice I heard in my head as I read. 

This summer, while working in our school’s gardens, a famous line from that book came back into my head: “If you build it, he will come.” 

As I observed a beautifully intricate spider web and some furiously busy ants, I couldn’t help but think about how we were like the man who plowed under his corn, built a baseball diamond, and got baseball players. We dug up sod, planted a garden, and got all manner of fauna, such as ladybugs, spiders, ants, bees big and small, butterflies, caterpillars, and even a dragonfly. 

In the garden, we are building habitat. At Ambleside, we are building home.

Home is the place where you are known, loved, cared for, and fed. People are happy to see you when you come through the door, and you are missed when you’re away. At home, you delight in things together as a family and harken back to them fondly. Home is where you feel safe and secure. 

That is what we are building here at Ambleside School.

On Friday, September 23, we will dedicate our butterfly garden to longtime Ambleside employee and friend, Martha James. Martha served the school with heart and purpose, making Ambleside a better place through her warm smiles, heartfelt care, expertly crafted curtains, and plants for our classrooms. 

Martha worked to make Ambleside a home. Home for the students, the teachers, the parents, and all who passed through the doors. Our butterfly garden – planted in earnest last fall by our students through a generous grant from the Audubon Society – is our tribute to an incredible lady for being instrumental in making Ambleside an incredible home.

It is our sincere aim to keep it that way, through the devoted service of people like Martha, and our tireless teachers, administrators, and parents. 

We’re looking forward to a wonderful year together.

Warmly,

Krise

P.S. I recently had the pleasure of attending two Composer Study lessons. We listened to Ralph Vaughan Williams’, “In the Fen Country” in 2nd grade and Aaron Copland’s, “El Salon Mexico” in 5th. Enjoy!