I wrote this story and read it to a crowd of about 100 at our first NUA Sparrow Open House earlier this month. I thought you all might enjoy it, as well. It's one way of explaining the dissolution of Xara and how this new school miraculously came to be.
Not so long ago, a small kingdom with a big heart was falling apart at the seams. As rulers, courtiers, and villagers dispersed to the four corners of the land, a small band of individuals remained hopeful that, somehow, the struggling kingdom would survive.
When word came that the little kingdom had pulled up its drawbridge and bolted its gates, this group knew in their hearts it was not, in fact, the end. But what were they to do? “Our kingdom had its troubles, to be sure,” they cried, “but if given a chance, we will take what we learned and create a kingdom like none other; one that is wholesome and good for our children and our families.”
A brave and good knight from a neighboring kingdom heard word of their plight. Sir Halfaker traveled far and wide to the land of Nua to beseech its Duke to take in the small band as his own. Duke Bernie agreed, and there was great rejoicing…
… but only for a moment, for there was little time to celebrate when so much was to be done. The land of Nua had no castle for this tiny new kingdom, and Duke Bernie had decreed that if, and only if, the band could find enough villagers to join together with them, would he help them find their castle and support their new beginning. The small group had only seven weeks to fulfill the Duke’s wishes.
Amidst the castle hunting and courtier screening and villager recruiting, the small band worked night and day to amend and enhance their kingdom’s mission. “Our old kingdom had heart, but let’s now add head and hands, for only when the three work together in harmony will our kingdom be balanced and whole.”
By the sixth of the seven weeks, atop a small hill with a gently blowing breeze, there was found a tiny castle just perfect for their new kingdom. The band scurried and scrubbed, painted and prepared, and by the end of that one very last, very short week, they were actually ready.
On September 12th, 2011, in the Land of Nua, the kingdom of Sparrow opened its gates and welcomed its people. And the small band of individuals who had hoped it so, who had made it so … smiled.
The Story of Sparrow - A Fairy Tale
Checking In
Hello readers! I've missed you! I've been a bit busy these past few months ... starting a NEW SCHOOL! I'm so eager to fill you in, but I've only gotten as far as updating the About page, so go check that out to find out a teensy little bit. I've been writing a ton, but it's all going into our promo materials and a new website for the school, (and emails and newsletters and curriculum and and and...). I'll share the website here when it's ready.
There is so much to share ... about how this whole crazy thing happened in seven weeks flat; about how miraculous it was that we found the perfect site only one week before we were scheduled to open and how crews of parent volunteers transformed the place in nine days; about how all these parents hung in there through a summer full of slim chances to take this leap of faith together; about how 100 people packed into our open house on the one stormy October night that it rained buckets in San Diego ... there are so many stories!
I'll do my best to share them here as I carve out the time. It may take a while.
Oh, and by the way, the name of our school is National University Academy - Sparrow Program, or NUA Sparrow for short.
