October 20, 2023

 

Dear Roberts Field Friends, Associates & Alumni,  

 

I’m writing to let you know that this 2023-2024 school year will be the last for The Roberts Field School elementary program. Comprehensive information was shared with our school families about the conditions leading to this necessary decision in late September. We stand in much love, compassion, and devotion to partner with all our RFS families to ensure a positive and strong application/enrollment process to matriculate to the next school for their child. We are committed to continuing to offer the very best of RFS throughout these three seasons and celebrating the pillars of mission, deep learning, exceptional educators and artists, and joy the school has given over these nine years.

 

Fundamentally, while Roberts Field began to take off and thrive in its 5th year in 2019, the deleterious effects of the pandemic gravely impacted all aspects of the school’s financial health and enrollment from which we have not been able to recover. Factors such as 110,000 families leaving NYC in the last 3 years, inflation, the state of the economy, the unaffordability and/or lack of demand for small, independent elementary education for a growing number of families, an overall change in educational priorities, and the evolution of the NYC zeitgeist have contributed to this conclusion. The SCP Board, benefactors, as well as fundraising and donations on the part of extraordinarily generous members supported RFS through the pandemic, with the hope that the school would come around a curve of greater expansion. However, the pace of RFS’ post-pandemic regrowth is not fast enough to keep pace with the resources necessary to continue to run the school and its extraordinary mission.

 

We have so much appreciation for you in the various ways you have partnered and supported RFS through time. Thank you for believing in us! While RFS will not continue in the way originally intended, we know its indelible legacy will ripple out into the world timelessly. Its impact and intentionality will merge within the flow of a larger river of educational cause. Roberts Field's mission will ignite again in many centers of the future that can carry on the importance of this torch’s  light. 

 

Roberts Field ensures elementary education meets the needs and light of the individual child within the community, that it challenges each student’s intellect and academic proficiency, expands their heart and knowledge base, and nurtures a creative connection with community and nature. Roberts Field is unyieldingly devoted to the diversity, peace, and justice our world should comprise in communities – and which is possible through holistic education. Creativity and compassion stand unwaveringly at the forefront of how RFS guides the development of the child’s mind and spirit.

 

Studio Creative Play, Studio Terra Kindergarten, and our holistic arts and education family mindfulness and enrichment programs will continue to operate. 

 

 

With gratitude,

Khahtee V. Turner

Founder/Executive Director/Co-Director

The Roberts Field School

The Board of Studio Creative Play