Perennial Connections
– by Diana Owen, Head of School, published in ViewPoints issue 2023-2024
Remember paper file folders? Before Google Drive, Dropbox, USB, and Zip drives, we all used paper files exclusively, which seems a bit old-fashioned these days. I loved color-coding my files by topic and relished keeping everything organized. Being organized was especially important once I became a busy parent and managed all the paperwork for my two sons.
I recently discovered a folder labeled “Pine Point” way in the back of a drawer in my home office file cabinet. I smiled when I saw the first piece of paper in the folder. It was a letter from Pine Point School’s Director of Admissions, dated March 8, 1993. It was my first contact with the school. Mind you, my oldest son, Tom, was born in January of 1993. I like to plan, but this was a bit extreme, even for me! Since he wasn’t even out of newborn clothing, he clearly wasn’t ready for a Pre-Kindergarten admissions visit! What was I thinking?
We had been living in Connecticut for less than a year, so I didn’t have much background information about the region, let alone the educational options, but I had heard consistently wonderful reports about Pine Point School. As an educator, I was excited about the opportunity of having my young child attend a school that seemed philosophically and mission-aligned with our family. Pine Point’s commitment to fostering a love for learning, its emphasis on community and character development, and its dedication to providing a nurturing and inclusive environment were all aspects that resonated with me as a parent and educator. The admissions director was kind and fielded my early and eager questions. She warmly encouraged my engagement and kept me informed as my infant grew into toddlerhood. The file I discovered included reflections I jotted down after a 1995 pre-enrollment classroom visit. Reading over my handwritten notes nearly 30 years later, I see that the warm spirit and pedagogical approach of Pine Point, which values interdisciplinary, creative, and collaborative learning, has remained consistent throughout the decades.
Fast forward to September 2023—we started this school year with a birthday party, our 75th! This celebration served as a testament to our past, present, and future. For 75 years, Pine Point has offered parents an independent school choice. Pine Point provides an engaging and interdisciplinary education and concurrently serves as an ecosystem of care for children and parents. This special campus is where our students establish their primal landscape, their first educational space where their emerging curiosity and independence develop, and where they begin to explore their world and fully and creatively express themselves.
Our alums thoroughly enjoy visiting campus and routinely share stories of how they compare all of their subsequent educational experiences to Pine Point. While academic fundamentals were at the core of their education, they also connected ideas, creatively expressed themselves, learned to lead, and found their voices. They experienced joy, challenges, and triumphs. They discovered how to make friends, resolve conflicts, and demonstrate kindness and empathy. Current students and alums are an integral part of and known by our connected community. Interestingly, parents of alums enjoy being back on Barnes Road just as much as their children. Our campus has served and continues to serve as an extended neighborhood where there is a feeling of comfort and being at home.
I am deeply grateful that Pine Point was here for my family and that my children experienced a Pine Point School education. As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, I want to thank you for your impactful, loyal, and ongoing support of all we do. I look toward Pine Point’s future with hope and optimism and the promise of an incredible education for so many more children in the years to come.
Sincerely,
Diana Owen P’08,’11
Head of School
