Stand outside Sandy Hawthorne’s Foundation classroom on a Wednesday morning just as all the LS students are filing into Turner hall for Assembly and watch how many former students jump out of line to give her hugs. “It’s a rule. I tell them at the end of their Foundation year, when you see me in the hall next year, you have to say hello.” Hugs are optional, but boy, does she get her fill. Stepping inside her classroom, this teacher’s experience speaks for itself: everyone is always very busy, very happy, and amazingly attentive and polite (remember, we’re talking about five and six-year-olds). The first in her family to go to college, Sandy got her degree in Education after pondering the choices her friends in high school were making: hairdressing school, secretary school; there weren’t many obvious options for women. Some people were talking about going to college. “If you can do it, so can I,” she thought, and off to college she went, waitressing part-time to pay her way. Her career in education includes teacher and director of a nursery school in New Milford, CT, training manager for all (U.S.) Early Learning Centre store managers (a U.K.-based company begun by a father searching unsuccessfully for non-violent toys for his young son), and four years as a first grade teacher in the Danbury public schools. Somewhere in there she also became the mother of two sons. Sandy’s introduction to Ridgefield Academy was as a first grade Assistant Teacher with Lillian Varian. During her second year (second grade assistant with Katie Spiro), she assumed the responsibility of Head Teacher in Foundation at the Landmark/Redding campus. Two years went by and the Ridgefield campus summoned her back, in Foundation, a grade she calls her absolute favorite. “I think it is the year in school that shows the most growth. To see those light bulbs go on inside their heads when they make connections and understand something for the first time…it thrills me to no end, every single day.” Teaching seems to be her natural calling, saying she knew she would need to work in a field that was philosophy-based. Over this past summer, Sandy and fellow RA Foundation teacher Karen Korres attended a workshop aptly titled "Fundations", run by the Wilson Reading Program. An innovative approach to teaching phonics, reading, and writing, "Fundations" emphasizes multi-sensory learning. For example, it has been proven that children learn better and more easily when they use their bodies/gross motor movements to help them learn certain skills. This year, you’ll see Foundation students out of their seats even more often, making straight and strong arm movements in class to form their letters. Sometimes they sit with their eyes closed, trying to visualize in their head a word they are learning. They know how to tap their fingers together in a special way to work out the sounds and syllables for phonics. Accompanying workbooks and fluency cards allow for further early reading skills. Students practice writing on their little individual white boards and use very cool magnetic letters as another way to form words. Finally, a program that is all-encompassing, one that “really helps make those important, essential connections between reading and writing. It is great for learning how to spell as well!” Sandy says, quite obviously impressed with the program and the results so far. And the kids are clearly having a great time with the hands-on practices. Having worked in other educational institutions, what advantage does Ms. Hawthorne think RA offers its students? “Small class size for sure, and two teachers per class is tremendously helpful. But the biggest thing is probably parent involvement. RA parents have an invested interest (literally and figuratively) in their children’s education at Ridgefield Academy, and their show of support makes a big difference in the lives of these students.” Enthusiastic to try new things in the classroom and curriculum, Sandy is also forever involved in remodeling projects in her home. “Some people love to go to the mall…I’d rather go to The Home Depot or Lowe’s. I’m always thinking ‘what can I do to make that better?’" A collector and avid tag-saler, Sandy looks in particular for syrup bottles “of all ages”, glassware, and antique kitchenware. At press time, Ms. Hawthorne had just become a first-time grandma to a baby girl! “She is sooo adorable!” Grandma announced. Looks like kitties Licorice and Mischief may have to share their caregiver’s time with the likes of little Anna Grace soon!