A Thoughtful Pause: Summer Programming at Silverwood

A note from our Head of School, Mrs. H:

When I began my role at Silverwood, one of my charges was to revitalize our summer camp offering. At that time, the school had stopped offering summer camp because it required lead teachers to participate, attendance was low, and it cost the school thousands of dollars each summer. I made a commitment to our teachers and our Board that we would bring it back only if it was mission-aligned, revenue-neutral (or positive) for the school, did not rely on our regular classroom teachers, and paid excellent wages to those giving up part of their summer to work here.

Because of that commitment, we’ve had five strong summers of summer camp at Silverwood. And as Silverwood has grown and evolved, it’s time to take stock and make sure our systems, staffing, and campus are set up to support the work we want to do next. For those reasons, this summer is a planned pause.

There are a few factors behind this decision. First, we are realigning our front office staffing to better meet the needs of our community and our staff. That work will take focused time this summer to sort through roles, train, and prepare for the next school year. We have several exciting projects in motion, and I want to be sure our office team can give them the attention they deserve.

Second, we are giving our campus grounds a rest and using the summer to do some needed revitalization. Our lawns, trails, plantings, and parking areas take a real beating over the course of a school year. This pause gives us the chance to restore and improve the spaces our students use every day.

Third, we want to reassess the purpose and mission of summer camp at Silverwood. Summer camp has always been more than childcare. At its best, it builds community, offers meaningful experiences for children, and serves as an invitation to families who are curious about Silverwood. At the same time, our primary mission is the school year. If running summer camp pulls attention away from preparing for the fall, we need to be confident that it is directly benefiting our current students, staff, and campus in a way that justifies that cost.

While we will not be offering summer camp on campus this year, there are many excellent options available around Kitsap County, and we encourage families to explore those opportunities for the summer months. Thank you for your understanding and for the support you continue to show our school.