This week, we shared with our faculty, staff, alumni, current families, and friends of Sabot the exciting news we are eager to post here. Effective July 1, 2023, Sabot at Stony Point will become Sabot School. 

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While the change, in effect, is subtle, the decision itself is highly symbolic. Though the Sabot School was founded as a preschool in 1972, it was not until 1995 that its foundational values were cemented in the Reggio Emilia Approach™, borne of the vision of Loris Malaguzzi in Reggio Emilia, Italy. As our School grew (and later merged with the Stony Point School), we became increasingly aware of the unique space we occupy in the independent school landscape in Richmond, Virginia. We are one of the only preschool to Grade 8 Reggio-inspired schools in the United States, which is a tremendous privilege and responsibility.

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Our name change recalls and honors our roots, reaffirming our commitment to Reggio values and practices, while also establishing us firmly as a leader in progressive education. While the logistical tasks of the change are important—you’ll begin to notice updates to our website and social media pages as we refresh our print materials, merchandise and signage—one significant matter to note is what the change does not mean: our values, philosophy, mission and vision are not changing. In fact, our name is one way of underscoring those very things we cherish. As Sabot's former and long-time Head of School Irene Carney notes, "Now 16 years in... our school can lay claim to having developed a unique and important offering in independent education for our region. At this moment, we affirm that the original vision of the founders of Sabot School - founded 50 years ago - has been nurtured and expanded and continues to live and thrive."

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In a time of global uncertainty and with the complexities of an unknowable future, Sabot is as certain as it has ever been about its purpose. We are claiming with confidence our commitment to this particular way of learning, our allegiance to our mission, and our clear responsibility as path-forgers on a quest to revolutionize education. Our work ahead is to sustain the vision and promise of our School’s beginning: to deliver an excellent, thoughtful, and contextual program that recognizes the environment as a third teacher; that is responsive, collaborative and inquiry-based; and that honors the Image of the Child as a creative and capable citizen and a protagonist in the story of their own learning.

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As we said to our faculty and staff, the vision that formed Sabot is the vision that continues. In that spirit, this is not a welcome back to Sabot School…it’s a welcome home. There’s never been a better time to be here.

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