An Acorn Parent's Reflection Written By Kate Raucci

Dear Acorn Community, 

My name is Kate Raucci, I have two boys who are Acorn Alums and a daughter who will be a Chipmunk this coming September. I am also privileged to be a member of the Board of Directors. 

When my husband and I moved to the Seacoast close to 10 years ago and started meeting people in the area, we kept hearing about this magical school. It seemed to be everywhere - neighbors, the grocery store, new families we’d meet at the playgrounds, and friends of friends. Naturally, I did what anyone with access to Google would do - I looked it up and immediately decided my children should attend.

As a parent, I think we always look for achieved milestones and measurable developed skills as a strategy to help support and guide our children. There are natural ones to expect from a preschool like pre-reading and math skills or some of the age appropriate social-emotional skills and Acorn certainly accomplishes those. But the skill I want to reflect on is not measurable and, in my opinion, is one of the things that sets Acorn apart - the development of resilience in our children, a skill that helps create magic. 

Resilience isn’t a skill that is typically measured or formally tested in school but it is skill tested throughout our lives. Its growth and development in my sons wasn’t immediately apparent but I also wasn’t looking for it; I know better now. I remember my sister commenting that the boys didn’t care about the weather, they just geared up and went outside regardless of torrential rain or freezing conditions. I remember their Kindergarten teachers saying they loved having Acorn kids because they were so adaptable and capable. I remember watching them try and re-try and try again to solve a problem or figure out how to retrieve a toy floating in the middle of our pond without a thought of giving up. I remember their approaches to learning new skills and weathering initial failures. I see their resilience and the foundation of that which Acorn helped to build every day. 

I remember my first school visit with Sue. She walked me around the campus to the different learning areas with the level of enthusiasm and passion that is just who she is but also so reflective of Acorn and the broader community as well. I came home from the tour and relayed to my husband that this school was indeed magical. 

As we became a part of Acorn, I came to realize that it wasn’t just the school that was magical, it was the whole of the Acorn community. The school, people, staff and families that formed this extensive network and beautiful example of community. 

Recently I experienced what it meant to be a part of this magical community and I saw the invaluable skill of resilience rise to new heights in my children. My husband and my children's father passed away unexpectedly in January. In the wake of this tragedy, my children showed me what being resilient really meant. I was reminded of its importance and its power. I was also reminded that being resilient doesn’t mean you have to do it all alone. And, because of the community, I was reminded that there was still magic in the world.  

For me and my family, the magic of Acorn was there from the start. But particularly over the last several weeks we have been surrounded by it from all of you. It has shown up in meals, hugs, toys for my children, gift cards for groceries and restaurants, reach outs with no pressure of response just support, more meals, childcare - the full list being impossible to capture. 

In this new version of our life as a family of four, I am reminded how important and special community is and how it is its own form of magic. I am reminded that magic comes in so many versions and doesn’t end in childhood. I am reminded that some of the most important and impactful skills are not measured by a test score or a check box.

While Acorn will continue to nurture our children in measurable skills, it is my hope that the value of the immeasurable ones will not be cast aside. I hope this letter reflects back to you some of the magic that I have experienced in recent weeks and that I have done justice to just how much it has meant to me and my children. 

I am beyond grateful for everything and everyone in this community. You have wrapped us in your embrace, helped to see us through and reminded us there will be more magic to come. 

Very truly, gratefully and sincerely yours,
Kate, Finn, Jax and Coraline Raucci