February 3, 2023 

Dear Students, Families and Friends of the Carden Country School, 

It is with confidence that God has plans for the good for each of us, with thanks for the work he has given us to do, and with joyful gratitude for the students, parents and colleagues that have warmed our hearts and lifted our spirits over these many years that the staff and Board of Directors of the Carden Country School announce that due to plunging enrollment, our final day of school operations will be Friday, June 2nd, 2023.  

We do not make this decision lightly, but prayerfully and carefully. We believe that for everything there is a season, and that seasons change after a time.  While we hope you will all treasure and honor your time at Carden, as we do ours, we believe we are each also called to look forward expectantly to what lies ahead.  

We have struggled with enrollment for several years but have been able to remain open due to financial resources carefully gathered and stewarded over many previous years. Because we will not incur debt, and being so short on enrollment, we cannot possibly continue operations after this current school year.  We will not risk all on finding the 20 new students this spring which we would require to ensure a full year of school in 2023-24.  

Therefore, to make certain that all of us have adequate time to make appropriate plans for next year, we are making this decision now.  We will end operations in a slightly cash positive position, leaving just enough reserves to wrap up operations and hopefully to pay staff a severance.   

We will complete this school year with joy and enthusiasm. Every class will finish this year’s work with strength and intention, just as we have for the last 32 years. At year’s end we will celebrate all the accomplishments of our students and our community.  

We are so grateful to those who have taken this journey with us.  We thank our students for your attention and your effort.  We thank our alumni for your impromptu visits and making us so very proud of you.  We thank our parents for your trust in us and for loving your children and sending them to school well rested, well-nourished and well loved. We thank our aunts, uncles, grandparents, and other donors who have supported this work for so long. We thank Miss Carden, Mrs. Caron, Mr. & Mrs. Jones from Carden Hall and all those who have gone before and passed to us this amazing curriculum and philosophy of life and education. We thank all of you for your work and your prayers supporting our mission to teach children to know and love God more and more every day, and to find and develop the unique gifts God gave them that they might serve Him in their lives. 

We are now each called to “Go Forth and Serve.”  We look to the future with faith in God, with thanksgiving for His many blessings over so many years, and with joyful anticipation of all the glorious things He has in store for each of us.  

It has been a profound honor, a unique privilege, and heartfelt joy to serve God by serving you and your children.  

Gratefully, 

Mr. Harvey
on behalf of the Staff and Board of Carden Country School