New Blog

My faithful blog readers, I no longer post to this blog. Please visit me instead at http://dawngrinnell.blogspot.com. See you there!
Miss Dawn

The End

"once there was a way to get back homeward...once there was a way to get back home.. sleep pretty darling do not cry, and I will sing a lullaby."

Reportedly, Paul McCartney wrote this after sitting down to a piano in his father's house, shortly after his mother's death. Paul couldn't read music, (hard to believe), and noticed this piece of musical score on the piano. It was written by his stepsister Ruth. He then needed to lullaby himself in the absence of his mother, kept the words, but changed the melody to something more suitable to him.. That's genius in itself. It was also telling of far more.. his grief of the knowledge that the Fab4 would soon be ending their time together creating magical music and memories . As he states, "once there was a way to get back homeward.." Paul, I believe, is insightful enough of a lyricist to see what was happening to this great thing known as, "The Beatles."

The Beatles, probably one of the most legendary bands of our day..and frankly, I believe days to come. Their 5-6 year "Magical Mystery Tour" was wrapping up and they had been down the long and winding road one too many times. Its very hard to produce and maintain that stamina and momentum when you have 4 very talented lads, brothers, now reaching out into new directions musically. Each had been touched through their brief years of fame. Each had been one..one group collectively... John and Paul being the lead singers, writers, composers, and true funny men of the grouping. George and Ringo, more under shadowed, none the less equally important and certainly a contributing factor to their success as a whole. However,as George, (the most gentle and introverted), was piquing, and Ringo was showing his truer colors in more solo singing and drum pieces, John and Paul were worn down and certainly tired of co-creating all the time...collectively. The Beatles were all secretly crying our for "HELP!" As brothers do, they goofed, laughed, cried, partyed, prayed, traveled, and yes sometimes bickered... but produced countless classic pieces of rock-n-roll music that will forever mystify the world. How genius. How brilliant. How clairvoyant their lyrics and ageless melodies and harmonies. They were the ones! The bad asses. They were what was being "foretold" if you will. Yes, Elvis, and Chuck Berry were the earlier prophets.. much like Moses and Elijah before the coming of Christ.. but musically, The Beatles were the Messiah of Rock-n-Roll!

It's got to be hard having all that creative talent amalgamated in recording studios, writing rooms, flats all over the world, Buddhists gardens, airplanes, etc. Its hard when your goal is to produce a song, an album, and "out-do" what is already perfect. What has already been done. But they had fans who deeply loved them and wanted for their sticking together. They wanted their genius. It made them feel good! Yes, The Beatles were a feel-good band to start. Happy music to get you dancing 8 days a week! It was the early1960's and the real troubles of that era were just coming to light. The days were light and whimsical in the beginning. They were enjoying their top of the world status. Must be surreal. The boys, however, were experimenting with their own styles of musical insight.. (and experimenting with other things too ;) and John and George were now new members of the enlightenment age of the 1960's. Influencing the Beatles were Indian musical instruments, bright colors, and humanistic-fantasy stories such as the tales of Uncle Albert and Yellow Submarines. Black straight suit and ties were forfeited for the Sgt. Peppers brilliant Technicolor uniforms..and the hair continued to move into sideburns and long shaggy bang sections. A rebelling band for sure. Yet fun! The Beatles were confident enough now for silly creative ca rteblanche! They weren't afraid, they were the Beatles.

Confidence and growth make strange bedfellows. Its a relationship I've always struggled with. The Beatles couldn't have been any brighter, (literally and figuratively), in those days. For sure they knew that mistakes, musically, would happen less frequently. Confidence is a result from a job well-done. The hard work paying off. Some folks admire in others, and some loathe it , or misconstrue it as ego-inflated, or narcissistic tendencies. The Beatles were struggling with this as a group and as individuals. The Beatles were becoming more unique and individualized singularly. They were becoming long-haired musicians, ( a nickname for musical giants such as Bach and Beethoven)..and they were both literally and figuratively. They were all itching down the road less traveled .. not only collectively but individually. Growth we call it. And quite often growth happens during moments when our confidence in our abilities allow us try all those groovy things! Why not? Growth is good, but it is also challenging collectively.. it hard to resonate as a whole.. what everyone wants from you when the rules change. Those rules can either make or break the creative force of the whole, or straighten it. Perhaps, at times the road is only supposed to be traveled for a brief time collectively in order to make room for the "solo careers?" Perhaps some want to change, and others do not. Perhaps... Perhaps people simply grow apart, take the other direction in the fork, or accept that Source/God/Universe is opening up new doors for the talent to surge in other ways.

The End, (in video and musically), reminds us of those bittersweet times when something so perfect can't be re-done. When the other paths are beckoning our footsteps. When anyone of the following scenarios/shifts in feelings, doubts, confidences, jealousies, religious experiences all listed above can no longer sustain a group. (Not mentioning anything about mixing in real-life.. marriages, divorces, children, lovers, substance abuse or the switching of managers and the like, that The Beatles actually encountered during those magical years). Because the magic is only magical for brief times in life and the reality is, all you need is love.... and a little help from our friends. That's all that is required for those uncertain days ahead. If you say goodbye, then I'll say hello.. don't know why you say goodbye.. I say hello!
....and in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make!

The End, Miss Dawn

When God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window!

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow we celebrate the last major feast in the Church year before approaching Advent... the Feast of Pentecost. The coming of the Holy Spirit, the Church's Birthday, perhaps the Baptism of the Church itself!
Baptism by fire.. This week's lessons regarding the coming of the HS are indeed "on fire!"
Truly, I mean this.

Here's what I know. We have all heard the expression, "When God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window!" Never in my life have I heard this expression more so than in this last week.. and yes it is truthful.. some say it genuinely..and others offer it as a way to help ease the blow.. but truly it has its roots in our Pentecostal message.. the Disciples and Mary were locked away in a room with the door closed.. Jesus had gone to join the Father in Heaven. He left them with the promise of waiting for the strength, the power, the courage, the surge of HS that they needed to move on and go out and do God's work. .."suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.."

The window opened and in blew the HS! I realised this week, that indeed, is what has happened to me.

The rest of the Acts story goes on to say, "Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim."

I told the children this week that everyone in the room began to speak in a language they had never learned to speak before..so that everyone was now able able to hear God's word.. pretty darn hard to tell and share Jesus' message if you only spoke with one voice isn't it?? How would they feed the many if only one voice proclaimed the Good News?!

The children asked me, "Well Miss Dawn, do you mean they spoke French and Italian..Spanish and Japanese?" I said, "Kind of.. but they were speaking in ancient forms of these languages.. forms that were present in Jesus' time..but the purpose in speaking in tongues was to make the world feel welcomed and aware of God's Love.. the one language that ALL people understand. The Language of Love is a universal law.

The Disciples were baptised by fire that day! The first Pentecost and Pentecost Sunday 2009 do not speak a different story..in fact, the message to go out, speak out, be courageous and strong, love one another as I have loved you, is all there for us today. When the window opens and the wind rushes in..the sky clangs, and,a fire that is never burning, but only warming, rests upon us we are being blown into the direction of proclaiming a new way to love and live with God's blessings!

Each day I try to teach my students that we are all different. Intentionally! God has work for us all based on those differences. That is why I have always subscribed to a teaching staff that is made up of differences. Differences in our talents, perspectives and styles. I promote the student to accept his differences and learn from ours! That is the basis of my curriculum. That just spills over into a greater understanding of how many people we need to raise up speaking in tongues!

The noise has ceased, the window is open and the wind has blown in... it invites the springcleaning we all search for but quite often are too afraid to deal with, once we begin the process of emptying our drawers and giving things away to Good Will!

"... I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are coming."

Last week, on Ascension Thursday I brought the children outdoors and released a white balloon. I wanted to explain how the Disciples felt as they watched Jesus be carried away to Heaven.. a balloon is a perfect visual example of how to teach that lesson. When any balloon gets away from us.. we watch fondly and sadly its direction as it ultimately disappears into the atmosphere. Immediately we want to replace the old balloon. The Disciples very much felt this way when Jesus left them. They wanted him back.. they were afraid to move without him. But Jesus promised that a new way was coming very quickly... a birth of new way of living and finding a home for all of God's people.

The Birthdays of our own lives begin when we clean out the old and make ready for the new. Accepting and welcoming the differences of those around us will be the very air that gives shapes to our new birthday balloon!

Happy Birthday! Joyeux Anniversaire!Buon Compleanno! Xronia Polla! San ruit kua lok!
Yom Huledet Same"ach! Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! Otanjou-bi Omedetou Gozaimasu!

Miss Dawn

A Letter from EDS Parents

Please read the beautiful letter penned by Samantha Hines to the leadership at Emmanuel. There were many, many signatures that followed her name.. without having their permission I opted to forgo their names to respect their privacy.

Thank you so very much Samantha and EDS parents!!!! YOU ARE THE BEST!

Dawn

A Letter from EDS Parents to the Leaders of Emmanuel Church

Dear Ms. Shoemaker:

To say that your two recent communications—both your email announcement and follow-up letter—are disconcerting is an understatement to be sure. As parents of current and possibly future Emmanuel Day School students, we would like to make you aware of the repercussions of your announcement—in terms of both content and delivery.

The first concern has to do with what should have been your honest, precise, and continual communication with parents. You write in your letter, “. . . [P]ersistent efforts on our part have been made during the past year to effect change in the climate of the relationship between the director of the school and the leadership of the parish . . .” Though your use of the phrase “during the past year” does not indicate whether your efforts have been the work of 365 days or something considerably less, it is curious that at no time during your effort to “effect change” did you contact the parents of current students for their feedback, opinions, or thoughts. Whether it was an egregious oversight or deliberate decision to disregard parental perspective is a question that only you and your School Committee can answer; but it is worth noting that had you done so, you may have been aided in your work as the wisdom of others—especially those most immediately and greatly affected—is inarguably invaluable.

The timing of your communications is also an issue that must be addressed. As the end of May approaches, slots in local daycares and preschools are filled—or rapidly filling. Available funds for financial aid in private schools have been depleted. And frustrated parents find themselves with limited—or no—options for their children for September. The words you choose—that “there should be time to make all of the necessary preparations for the school to open in the fall as usual” give little comfort. “Should” does not inspire confidence--quite the contrary. Parents needed to know months ago that there were issues between Ms. Dawn Grinnell and you and the Vestry, which would have afforded them the opportunity to make the necessary arrangements for their children. As the leader of the parish—interim or otherwise—you should have kept the needs of the students and their parents at the forefront of your decision-making. Why you did not is most assuredly a concern.

Emmanuel Day School has been and is a magical place to be and for young children to learn; and this is due in no small part to the efforts of Ms. Dawn Grinnell. You allude to her “excellence,” “creativity,” and “credentials.” And each is rare and copious. In fact, it is due to her excellence, creativity, and credentials that parents choose EDS for their children. So you will understand our difficulty in comprehending or accepting your and the Vestry’s decision and why we remain befuddled as to why you can “no longer continue to employ Dawn Grinnell as director of Emmanuel Day School.” The linguistic intimations and innuendo you utilize in your letter can lead only to your readers’ speculating and assuming—certainly not a desirable set of circumstances for a school—or your parish. It is actually rather surprising that you would not only allow such a communication to be disseminated but that as the leader of a parish and an astute communicator you would pen it yourself.

What winds up happening to Emmanuel Day School is largely in the hands of the parents, your customers, if you will; and it is your customers’ belief that you have not put the needs of the children, the families, or your inimitable director before those of the Vestry and yourself. You mention “a fundamental conflict that is not subject to resolution.” When people who are in a position of power, who are leaders of those institutions that are so crucial to society’s health—a church and a school—cannot find a resolution, it does not offer much hope for the rest of us. Sometimes power and leadership are best achieved and maintained by surrounding ourselves with those who challenge us, who think differently from us, who are the creative forces among us. They are not threats to authority; on the contrary, they are the people who inspire, who move the world in a novel direction—they are the people we want teaching our children.

In closing, we encourage you to honestly evaluate not just the decisions that were made but how they were made and how they were communicated. You may decide to continue running an Emmanuel Day School without Miss Dawn—or you may not. And Miss Dawn may decide to start a new school—or she may not. But in the end we would ask that you reflect deeply on how this could have been handled differently as you pick up the pieces of this great loss.

Sincerely,

Samantha Hines
(other parents’ signatures added to original document)

Greg Cole weighs in on EDS!

Good Morning Parents and Friends,

If you are interested in how EDS was born please read Greg Cole's entry that I have posted to my blog. Indeed, it is well written and truthful..

I thank everyone who has responded to Samantha Hines letter. The parents, the teachers, my truest friends and supports, and the unique and wonderful children of EDS are what is making me smile each day!

More to come later.
Dawn

A Brief History of the Emmanuel Day School

Greg Cole has written a brief history of EDS in response to what happened there last week. I thought that those of you who care about the school might be interested to read his thoughts.

_____

Given the events of last week, it seems important that I describe the provenance of the Emmanuel Day School. What follows is my account of how it began and evolved.

In 2004, I asked Dawn to run a Vacation Bible School week at Emmanuel Church. That very successful week led the vestry and me to invite Dawn to become part of the Emmanuel Church staff, serving as the Director of Children’s Ministries. Dawn began to build our offerings to children, focusing on the Sunday morning program as well as many special events. In 2005, Dawn approached me, saying that she was searching for space to start a school, that she had already written the curriculum, and inquired about renting space at Emmanuel. After much discussion, the vestry, Dawn and I agreed that rather than rent space to Dawn, we would form a partnership, whereby the school would exist under the corporate umbrella of Emmanuel, with general supervision of the vestry, but run in a semi-autonomous fashion by Dawn.

I encouraged the vestry to agree to this arrangement for three reasons. First, I believed in Dawn’s ability. I had witnessed her work at a previous school and her work at Emmanuel. Dawn’s ability to communicate with children is the best that I have ever seen. Second, I understood that there could be wonderful synergy between the school and the church. In its long-range plan, published the same year, Emmanuel Church had identified children’s ministry as one of its primary mission initiatives. What better way to accomplish this than to have children and their parents in the building every day? Third, Dawn and I believed that the school could create a much needed revenue stream for the church.

Once the Emmanuel Church vestry agreed to Dawn’s proposal, she went to work. For months before she received any compensation, she spent countless hours honing her already written curriculum, applying for a license, coordinating the various inspections, furnishing and decorating the space, and hiring and training her teachers. She did all of this on her own. Dawn incurred several thousand dollars in expenses, for which she never received reimbursement. It is fair to say that Dawn single-handedly founded the Emmanuel Day School.

In January 2006, the school opened for business with nine students. A wonderful semester culminated in the first EDS graduation ceremony. In September 2006, EDS reopened with 44 students – what extraordinary growth! This year, EDS provides an amazing education to 54 students. From its beginnings in 2006, children and families, as well as members of Emmanuel Church, have witnessed an almost bewildering array of events, from Medieval Faires, to Christmas Pageants, to Science Fairs, and so many more. All of these events were a result of the creative genius of Dawn and her very talented staff.

Not only have the children of EDS and their families benefited from the work of Dawn and her staff, but Emmanuel Church has benefited as well. The synergy that I anticipated when we began did materialize, with many EDS families choosing to worship at the church. It was only natural that parents would send their children to a children’s ministry the director of which they already knew and loved. The program quickly flourished. Dawn began a children’s chapel during the first half of the Sunday morning Eucharist. This program averaged 25 children, many of whom came to Emmanuel Church through EDS. Good Friday Camp and Vacation Bible School were always at capacity.

Regarding the third goal, to create a revenue stream, I can only speak to the first two years for which I have detailed financial records. According to the Treasurer’s reports published in Emmanuel Church’s annual reports and submitted to the Diocese, the following are the financial facts for 2006 and 2007. In 2006, Emmanuel Church lent EDS $9,000 as seed money that was used to fix the ceiling in the auditorium and to build counters in the science room. In its first year, EDS generated enough revenue to pay back the seed money and to contribute $10,000 to the church to offset expenses such as utilities (listed as rent in the budget). How extraordinary that a brand new business could repay its seed money in its first year! In 2007, EDS paid $12,000 in “rent” and contributed a surplus of $22,778 to the budget of Emmanuel Church – an extraordinary amount of money in our resource scarce parish.

Emmanuel Day School has provided an unprecedented educational and developmental experience for many children during its three and a half years of existence. It has enriched the worship life of Emmanuel Church. In addition, it has generated a revenue stream that allows Emmanuel to continue to offer its ministry to the people of Newport. By any standard, it has been an amazing success.

The vestry, under the leadership of Ms. Shoemaker and Ms. Ritchie, has chosen to make a fundamental change. I respect their right to do so. However, let it be clear to everyone that Dawn, Allison, Christine, Jocelyn, Terri, and Trish are the heart and soul of EDS. It is their creativity, passion, and love for each other and the children that they serve that make EDS the magical place it has been since its inception. Dawn brought her already written curriculum to EDS. Dawn alone secured the license and made sure that the school passed all inspections. Dawn did everything that the vestry and I asked her to do. She and her staff have created a very successful school. For the leadership of Emmanuel Church to think that they can now take the school is dishonest and morally suspect. They can begin a new school with a new curriculum, but they cannot continue to operate Dawn’s school.

I would be happy to speak with any of you who would like more information. My email address is gregcole@post.harvard.edu. Thank you.

Dear Parents,

This week, (and weeks past), has provided more script than i can possibly publish on this new blogsite. I used a title, "Miss Dawn's Blog", so simplistic, as to find a way to easily communicate my feelings to you all and, for you all ,to communicate your thoughts/feelings/concerns and hopes to me! Please feel free to use this blog site anytime during this awkward, but hopeful process of transition as a vehicle to stay connected. I will also be posting my spirtual rantings again as well!

I have heard from so, so many of you this week! My voicemail system has been jammed for days.. emails galore and Facebook wall entries read daily. The love, the support, the tears, the anger, the confusion, and the betrayal you have felt from the stunning news of my termination as Director of EDS. I have certainly understood your concerns and fears...in fact, though, it was not stunning to me. This has been work in progress. I am hoping that through this medium we all can communicate freely and to be abreast as to what is going to happen in the future... because the future is what and where I am focusing my attention on.

One, among many of you, approached me this week.. not only for answers, but for me to say hopefully that I would not be giving up..( and..I am not).. but addressed something I hadn't thought about in sometime, and that was, "What happened to your blogs Miss Dawn? ... they got me through Christmastime!" aah. my blogs. I hadn't thought in sometime about them. It was encouraged by several parishioners for me to have one. For me to share information about "daily goings on", with our student population, teaching staff, formation, and my ability to communicate life in dealing with the young and gifted as it related to God... the Holy Spirit. Boy.. how I miss it! Today I went to find my old blog account. It was still active and listed, "Bright New Shiny Star," indeed, as its last entry. Not long after that last blog entry, I was informed, (among many other things), that my First Amendment Right was being infringed upon. I was told, "You WILL remove that blog site from your website!" So.. I did. I did it as a way to once again smooth things over... try to further my relationship with the current administration.. protect the school from any discomfort.. it is how abuse works. Someone threatens you with something of value and you respond in a way that is not healthy.

I am here to ask you all for your help. Your help, in helping me, and the staff of EDS, to continue the dream we have had for years to succeed in a new venue! I love EC. I always have. So does the staff. Unfortunately, we have experienced many changes in this last year that have been out of our control. The loss of our church staff, and most especially my best friend Greg Cole, the former Rector, was the beginning of this process. The church has undergone many changes that did not exist when EDS was formulated. It has been a difficult road of understanding and hard work that both the church and I underwent in this past year to come to an understanding of fairness. My fairness, and commitment to this process was to always put your family, the child, the staff and the mission of the school in to the #1 position. Defending such a worthy cause may be admirable, but not always looked upon with favour from those trying to change the system.

I am a person who believes in the Holy Spirit and what it has in store for all of us. Truly. What EDS.. all of us.. do for each soul there.. is not describable. Just look at the photos from Christmas and Graduations.. never mind our daily work. (or Thanksgiving and Medieval Nights).. the list goes on!!!! I am in love.. yes.. with EDS ! It's families, it's children, it's energy and personality! I love the girls as my own sisters.. and I have always expressed that publicly when I got the opportunity! This venture is contingent upon each and every one of us. The chemistry of this team will be "MY" Science Faire Project for this year! I want to do EXACTLY what it is we do somewhere else if EC won't handle us anymore. (or me..rather). I have never worked so hard, laughed so hard, loved so hard, and felt so hard as I have in these 4-5 years!

Please help me find a place! I am in contact and working with the Fire Chief and Marshal as we speak to locate our new location. If you are brainstorming please fwd the response to me so I can have them look in to the suitability of that environment for all of us.

I have told some of the parents I would be willing to meet in "Town Hall style" with any and all of you about any questions and concerns you may have. If any teachers would like to come that would be ideal! We can do it at O'Brien's if you like some week night soon.. I'm sure Kerrie will accommodate us somewhere for an hour or so!

Friday evening is Medieval Night. Please come and have fun!!! I have spoken with Aliki and we both feel that the silent auction is not appropriate or tickets for that matter. That night has never been about that.. it has always been about the fun and frivolity of a Spring Medieval celebration after a month of study! I hope to see you all and have a blast with Ty and Amy, our actors.. and a truly end to a nice month. The Science Faire and Art Show.. and Graduation! I promise you I have not, in the least, lost my enthusiasm for these great events! You will not be let down! I promise.

My private email is MissDawnG@aol.com and I welcome and encourage any and all questions, help, and prayers.

Sincerely,
Dawn