As we look ahead to our spring events, we want to share an important update regarding our Open House this year. 

Traditionally, our Open House has been a large, community-facing event with all staff on site to showcase student learning. This year, we are intentionally shifting the focus of that evening to better support students and families who are new to Samuel W. Shaw School and who will be joining us next year. 

As a result, our 2026 Spring Open House will be an invitation-based transition evening for newcomer families from Bridlewood School, Janet Johnstone School, and Somerset School. The purpose of this evening is to provide these families with dedicated time, space, and staff support as they begin their transition into our school community. 

We recognize that this is a change from past practice and that it does mean the event will look more exclusive than in previous years. This decision was made thoughtfully, with a focus on equity, meaningful transition support, and ensuring we can provide a high-quality experience for families who are navigating a significant school change. 

We want to assure our current Shaw families that this shift does not reduce opportunities to engage with our school community. Our Spring Concerts, performances, and ongoing classroom and school-wide communication will continue to celebrate student learning and bring our community together. 

Thank you for your understanding and continued partnership as we work to support all learners—both those already part of our community and those preparing to join it.