I’ll confess that I’m a bit of a word nerd. I love learning about words, their meanings, how they came into being or fell out of favor, and what the word really means rather than how we tend to use it. Recently, Merriam Webster declared “pandemic” the word of the year. In 2020, it was looked up 1,621% more often than in 2019. 

Two months after pandemic had its first Merriam Webster spike, another word—unprecedented—also began to spike. You have likely heard that word more times this year than in any past year of your life. 

Stepping Stones is no different than you, me, or the rest of the world. We opened for an unprecedented school year. There were an unprecedented number of small private schools like ours that closed their doors this year. And, every school, student and parent faced an unprecedented degree of uncertainty going into the academic year. 

And in the midst of the pandemic, Stepping Stones faces an unprecedented drop in income concurrently with an unprecedented rise in expenses. 

These are just some of the facts, and I have experienced unprecedented stress and anxiety. So have our guides, our assistants, and our support staff, and likely all of you. 

And yet, as I arrived in my office this morning, I noticed the poster created by two Upper Elementary students a few years ago. It is still there, reminding me of their perspective on Stepping Stones. They say, “I like that we have an opportunity to let out our creativity and really go full steam.” 

That has not changed. 

Stepping Stones is still here providing opportunities to develop independence and a sense of self. Guides are still meeting students’ curiosity with enthusiasm and joy. Students still come through the doors with gusto and enter classrooms with a sense of ownership for those environments. 

Students continue to ask questions inspired by their curiosity. They shine with pride when they complete the hundred board or ask for bigger numbers for the stamp game. Stepping Stones students enjoy that their homework focuses on practical life rather than worksheets. In response to a question about what he likes here, one student said, “Everything. It is too hard to choose.” 

As the world wrestles with so many challenges, don’t all of our students deserve an education where it is “too hard to choose” what they like? 

Stepping Stones is the place where students can go “full steam,” even in the midst of a pandemic. 

During this “unprecedented time”, I am counting the many blessings I enjoy. Stepping Stones and its creative, full-steam students are at the top of my list. 

I’ll add “hope” and “vaccine” to the list as well. In fact, I will look them up now. 



I wish you peace during this transition from 2020 into 2021. 

Elizabeth