We are excited for all that lies ahead, especially as we live into our theme: Created on Purpose for a Purpose. With this in mind, we want to share more about our Let Grow program, how it ties in with our Christian Education theme, and what we hope to see from our students in the weeks and months ahead. I understand that this is a longer email but I encourage you to read through this as it helps paint a picture into the community and culture of FMCS.
Fill out the form with details of any summer Let Grow projects they did and their impact on them and you.
What is Let Grow?
Let Grow is a program built around one simple, but powerful idea: when children are given the chance to do things on their own, to try things that stretch them, they grow in confidence, resilience, and self-reliance.
What is Let Grow?
Let Grow is a program built around one simple, but powerful idea: when children are given the chance to do things on their own, to try things that stretch them, they grow in confidence, resilience, and self-reliance.
Here are some of its foundational elements:
Our theme “Created on Purpose for a Purpose” reminds us that every child is made by God with intention, giftedness, and a purpose. One way children come to understand their purpose is by trying things, sometimes failing, sometimes surprising themselves with what they can do. Let Grow helps make space for this kind of discovery.
More specifically:
“I did it myself” is the original anxiety-buster. Doing things by themselves gives kids proof that they can handle challenges, make decisions, and solve problems without constant help; and that breeds confidence. When kids see they survived something new, even if it was hard, it helps quiet the “what-if” fears and reduces anxiety.
What to Expect This Year — Timeline & Focus
By September 23, students will be choosing their Let Grow projects in their classes. Families are invited to support their children in selecting something that is new, meaningful, and just outside their comfort zone, but not so far that it’s discouraging.
Our first focus for September & October will be “Getting out of our comfort zone and spreading our wings.” What this means: we want students to try things they haven’t done before; maybe something that scares them a little, maybe something that requires independence, perhaps something creative or service-oriented. This emphasis serves multiple purposes: it fosters growth, builds courage, and helps them discover strengths they may not yet know they have.
How Families Can Help & Engage
Links & Resources
Link to Lenore Skenazy’s TED Talk – “I did it myself” is the original anxiety-buster.
- Students are given a Let Grow project - think of it as “homework for life” - in which they pick something new they will do on their own (or mostly on their own), outside the regular classroom.
- Tasks can be varied: running errands, helping with something at home, trying a new skill, exploring a new interest. The idea is not to depend entirely on adults.
- Teachers have been asked to present this in their classes by September 23rd.
- Reflection is a part of it; students share their experiences, what was challenging, what they learned, how they felt. This helps internalize the growth.
- Let Grow also includes free resources for schools and families (we will share as we go along) to support these projects and help children build social-emotional skills like perseverance, problem solving, confidence, coping with frustration, emotional regulation and so on.
Our theme “Created on Purpose for a Purpose” reminds us that every child is made by God with intention, giftedness, and a purpose. One way children come to understand their purpose is by trying things, sometimes failing, sometimes surprising themselves with what they can do. Let Grow helps make space for this kind of discovery.
More specifically:
- Independence and Purpose: When children do things on their own, they begin to see themselves as capable, and this helps them discern what they are made for. It’s one thing to be told “you are created for a purpose,” but another to live it out in small choices.
- Resilience: Resilience is the capacity to bounce back from challenges, to keep moving forward even when things are hard or unfamiliar. Spiritually and practically, resilience is a fruit of maturity. Let Grow helps students exercise that muscle.
- Reduced Anxiety: There is significant concern these days that children feel anxious - about performance, about safety, about not being enough. Let Grow offers a counterbalance by giving children proof that they can handle things on their own. They learn they are strong enough, resourceful enough, loved even when imperfect. Children treated with a “mega dose” of independence (walking errands, doing everyday independent tasks) experience faster reductions in anxiety than some conventional therapies.
“I did it myself” is the original anxiety-buster. Doing things by themselves gives kids proof that they can handle challenges, make decisions, and solve problems without constant help; and that breeds confidence. When kids see they survived something new, even if it was hard, it helps quiet the “what-if” fears and reduces anxiety.
What to Expect This Year — Timeline & Focus
By September 23, students will be choosing their Let Grow projects in their classes. Families are invited to support their children in selecting something that is new, meaningful, and just outside their comfort zone, but not so far that it’s discouraging.
Our first focus for September & October will be “Getting out of our comfort zone and spreading our wings.” What this means: we want students to try things they haven’t done before; maybe something that scares them a little, maybe something that requires independence, perhaps something creative or service-oriented. This emphasis serves multiple purposes: it fosters growth, builds courage, and helps them discover strengths they may not yet know they have.
How Families Can Help & Engage
- Let go, and let grow: It can be hard as parents to resist the urge to step in, to fix things, to make sure everything is perfect. But one of our goals this year is to encourage letting go enough to allow our children the space to learn, to try, to stumble, and to succeed.
- Encourage reflection: After completing the project, talking as a family about what was hard, what was surprising, what was learned, and how they felt can deepen the growth.
- Share with us: We want to hear about Let Grow projects your children did over the summer. What did they choose? How did it go? What challenges or surprises came up? These stories help us all—students and families—to learn from each other, to be inspired, and to see what is possible.
- Talk with your child about possible Let Grow projects. Pray/think together about something that stretches them and aligns with their gifts, interests, or something they’ve wanted to try.
- Fill out the form below (at the bottom of this letter) with details of any summer Let Grow projects they did and their impact on them and you.
- Support your child through the process, but try to step back where appropriate; let them take initiative.
Links & Resources
Link to Lenore Skenazy’s TED Talk – “I did it myself” is the original anxiety-buster.
Share your Let Grow Stories HERE!
Let Grow Website and Resources
If you have any questions, ideas, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Let Grow Website and Resources
If you have any questions, ideas, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
