North Branch School Receives Children, Youth and Family Services Family Friend Business Award

The official presentation of the Family Friend Business Award by Children, Youth and Family Services occurred at a special breakfast on April 22nd in Charlottesville, Charlotte, Katrien and board members, Ellen Bouton and David Ferrall, attended on North Branch's behalf. The First Lady of Virginia originally was to have been the presenter but due to injury, she could not attend. Local community advocate and member of the Dave Matthews Band, Boyd Tinsley, stepped in at the last minute to help out! Following is an excerpt from Charlotte's acceptance speech:

"I am honored to accept this award on behalf of all the students, parents, staff and board members of North Branch School, past and present. For the past 21 years my family and I have been privileged to be a part of a "school family;" my children grew up from their earliest infancy with many more models of how to be a good personthan any "home family" could provide. Those models did not just passivly tolerate the variety of people in our school family. They actively and energetically welcomed and celebrated the differences as well as our common ground. I am very grateful for the love and care they received from a decade of students, teachers and parents."

"I am here today to receive this award because our Middle School Humanities teacher, Katrien Vance, wrote and submitted a wonderful essay about the ways in which our school has enrichedher family's life and the ways in which her two children's presence has enriched the life of the school."

"At North Branch we know that each child and each family, makes a unique contribution to the school community. And we know the the community plays a huge role in each child's experience of the world... Watching our graduates move through high school and college, we have reason to believe they will be ready, willing and able to carry on the work that you are all doing, both as parents and as members of active, caring communities."

The CYFS Family Friend Business Award honors a business with practices that instill a family friendly work culture. By including family friendly practices, employees and employers benefit. Only employees were eligible to nominate a business. North Branch School (NBS) is a small private school serving 75 children ages 3-14 in Afton, Virginia. NBS's selection for this award is best exemplified by an excerpt taken from the nomination form submitted by middle school teacher, Katrien Vance: 

" Look up 'family -friendly' in the dictionary and you should see a picture of North Branch School… the school has built its core around the idea that family comes first." 

The school demonstrates this ideal with family workdays, parents as teachers, work schedule flexibility and the inclusion of all family members. Ms. Vance experienced this first hand when allowed to bring her infant sons to school as she taught classes. 

" No one I've met has ever had an easier time raising her children and keeping the job she loves. NBS has allowed me-encouraged me-to do both."