Tom Thompson
Walking in the door at Still Waters on a recent Saturday, I was immediately taken in hand by an eleven-year-old girl who showed me around so I would feel comfortable. There was a lot to see in that small space: books everywhere, lots of student art on the walls, a piano, plenty paper and pens, and stories in every corner. The room quickly filled with a host of children who were just as bright and welcoming. Suddenly, there was pizza and poems, insights and concerns; there was reading, writing and listening. Throughout it all, there was always generosity, attentiveness, enthusiasm, creativity, warmth, forthrightness, and ingenuity. Each of these qualities is rare enough singly, but I can count on one hand the number of places I’ve been that has them all in such abundance. The joyful spirit of this community clearly begins with the deep experience, talents and character that Stephen Haff brings to the kids. But when I was there in that particular room on that particular day, you couldn’t say these qualities came from any one person. They came from all of us together. Still Waters is a great place to grow, and a great gift to all who enter it.