The letter below was sent out to Wissahickon Supporters in Fall 2023.

We carve out time daily to help students build community, learn to listen and share, talk through conflict, and more. And we have a vast team of professionals devoted to our students’ social-emotional health including guidance counselors, a school psychologist, Directors of Culture, and a Behavioral Support Team. 

It sounds really lovely and inspiring, and it certainly can be. But it is also really hard work. Many of our students have experienced profound trauma, especially after these past few years, while others have learning or neurological differences that make school a challenge. And these challenges show up in all kinds of ways. It is our job to understand what lies underneath the behaviors so we can partner with families to help children make the best possible choices. 

In fact, the educator Jeffery Benson notes that success with a student often takes “100 useful repetitions.” Progress doesn’t often occur in a straight line. Sometimes the wins are small, sometimes there is even failure. But with persistence – from staff and students and families– we do see growth. 

Take, for example, a recent Wissahickon graduate named Saeed. That’s a young Saeed at the top of this letter looking very cute and very grumpy. Saeed has always been bright and outgoing, but these traits didn’t always manifest in the most productive of ways. As a Kindergartner, Saeed would regularly elope from the classroom. At one point, he learned how to use the class telephone, figured out my extension, and would call me in my office “just to see how I was doing.” It was very sweet, but obviously a bit disruptive to learning. 

Our staff tried to work with Saeed to get him on track, but in the beginning he was resistant and his struggles in the classroom continued. Cracking his tough exterior and earning his trust was not easy. At other schools, Saeed may have been written off. But at Wissahickon, our community rallied around him. 

Eventually, through many repetitions and a lot of determination, Saeed learned to trust our community and he began to approach school with a new attitude. 

Saeed touched on this change when he was selected by his classmates to speak at graduation last Spring: 

“I have come a long way since Kindergarten,” he said. “Now I try to get good grades, I try to be successful, and I try to do my best. The moral of the story is that you can change for the better.”

Today, Saeed attends a military high school here in Philadelphia, which was his goal throughout middle school. “Cadet Saeed” and his proud parents are pictured below. Mom reports that Saeed is flourishing in his new community but hasn’t forgotten Wissahickon.

“He still practices his CARES values!” says Mom. CARES stands for Collaboration, Academic Excellence, Responsibility, Empathy, and Self-Reflection, and they are our core values at WCS. “He even told his homeroom teacher about them!”

I’m so proud of Saeed and other students like him for putting in the effort. I’m also proud of our talented and dedicated staff for showing such persistence in doing this hard work. But we could not have achieved these moments without YOU. The social-emotional resources we provide our children are essential, but they are costly and therefore not guaranteed in all schools. Plain and simple, donor support makes these programs – and these success stories – possible. Thank you for believing in our students and our model.

I hope we can count on you to help us continue this essential work by making a gift today. Contributions made before October 31st help us plan with confidence for the school year ahead.

Warmly, 

Kristi Littell    

Chief Executive Officer