The Weekly Bulletin
October 9, 2026
A Message from the head of lower school
Dear LFCDS Families,
One of the many gifts of our weekly Lower School Community Meetings is the opportunity they provide for students to grow into the confident, compassionate learners described in our school Vision Statement. This week, we experienced a beautiful example of that when we welcomed children's author Sally Lou Loveman to campus for a special Lower School Community Meeting centered around her debut picture book, Livy Lou Loves to Speak.
We are grateful to Kate Holland, P'20, P'23, P'25, Vice President of the LFCDS Board of Trustees, who connected us with Sally Lou last spring. Her book's message about listening to your inner voice, building self-confidence, and speaking without fear resonated with the goals of our Lower School Community Meeting program and we were thrilled to invite her to campus!
After reading her story to the Lower Schoolers, Sally Lou invited students in grades 1 through 4 to "shine their light" by coming onto the stage and sharing something that makes them feel confident. We all loved watching students step forward, use their voices, and celebrate their unique strengths while their peers listened and cheered them on! Moments like these are exactly why Community Meeting is a core component of our Lower School program: they provide authentic opportunities for children to build confidence in themselves while developing empathy and appreciation for others.
Another highlight came from our third graders, who wrote thoughtful letters to Sally Lou in advance of her visit. Their reflections, questions, and words of appreciation added a personal touch to the experience and demonstrated the connections students can form through books.
This special event was the result of collaboration among our school librarian, Donna Culhane, and our Lower School Community Meeting Committee. I am grateful to Paul Hedlund, Cindy Edwards, Marie Dohnke, Cailey Hiam, Jen Baer, Maria Hempen, and Rachel O'Shaughnessy who helped bring the morning to life, just as they do each week in the PAC.
As I watched students perform, lead, listen, share, and encourage one another, I was reminded that confidence grows through opportunity and community. We are grateful to Sally Lou for sharing her message with us.
Rachel Diaz
Head of Lower School
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