More Power to Her
Change is sometimes exhilarating and rarely easy. In my 32 years at Ellis as a teacher and later as Upper School Director, I have had the great pleasure of counseling thousands of girls to set their fears aside and dare to try something new and exciting. When asked to serve as Interim Head, I found myself in a rare moment of speechlessness. Then, I pictured the faces of the many Ellis girls and young women to whom I gave that advice, and it was clear that it was time for me to practice what I preach.
The opportunity to encourage young women has sustained me professionally and personally. Being in the company of bright young women who love to learn and take pride in this institution, I have felt more energy and excitement at our start of school than I have in a long time. Each and every girl has been a source of inspiration.
I cannot imagine a more gratifying and exciting opportunity than heading The Ellis School, especially given the tremendous foundation in our new Strategic Plan, Mission, Vision and Values. In these plans, you will find a new shared language that describes the “girl power” that an Ellis education provides. The choice of the phrase More Power to Her is purposeful, and is meant to capture our commitment to knowing and nurturing every girl through her individual journey wherever it may lead.
You will also notice careful attention to symbols, including our logo. Symbols are a touchstone for shared identity. Ellis alumnae have long asked for a logo that connects much more closely to our School’s historical roots. With our 100-year anniversary on the horizon, the time was right to look to our crest. The Ellis crest remains the School’s formal seal used for ceremonial purposes such as commencement, diplomas, and on commemorative item.
In refining our logo, we looked back to the crest and the symbols richly illustrated there. For our community of scholars, artists, and athletes, the laurel leaf — the symbol of victory, achievement, and glory for poets and Olympic athletes — was particularly powerful. As the design process unfolded, the graphic artists arrived at a leaf form that seems to flourish on the page. The leaf also bears resemblance to the flame of knowledge found in our crest.
Green, one of our School colors, signifies the way girls flourish here at Ellis. Together, the deep-rooted dark green of the letter forms and the pale green of newly sprouted leaves represent the Ellis ecosystem. Teachers and parents uplift students. Older students inspire younger girls. Alumnae mentor new graduates. In this way, our leaves and branches spread, providing shelter and support to those who come after us.
Our alumnae, students, parents, Board, faculty, and the regional community contributed so much to this process. Whether your time at Ellis is marked by two years or 32 years, you are part of the continuity of this Ellis ecosystem. We thank you for continually challenging us to capture the true Ellis spirit. We invite you to join with us in sharing these messages and building a strong future for our School, and for each and every Ellis girl.
This article originally appeared int he Fall 2013 issue of Ellis Magazine.
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I cannot imagine a more gratifying and exciting opportunity than heading The Ellis School, especially given the tremendous foundation in our new Strategic Plan, Mission, Vision and Values. In these plans, you will find a new shared language that describes the “girl power” that an Ellis education provides. The choice of the phrase More Power to Her is purposeful, and is meant to capture our commitment to knowing and nurturing every girl through her individual journey wherever it may lead.
You will also notice careful attention to symbols, including our logo. Symbols are a touchstone for shared identity. Ellis alumnae have long asked for a logo that connects much more closely to our School’s historical roots. With our 100-year anniversary on the horizon, the time was right to look to our crest. The Ellis crest remains the School’s formal seal used for ceremonial purposes such as commencement, diplomas, and on commemorative item.
In refining our logo, we looked back to the crest and the symbols richly illustrated there. For our community of scholars, artists, and athletes, the laurel leaf — the symbol of victory, achievement, and glory for poets and Olympic athletes — was particularly powerful. As the design process unfolded, the graphic artists arrived at a leaf form that seems to flourish on the page. The leaf also bears resemblance to the flame of knowledge found in our crest.
Green, one of our School colors, signifies the way girls flourish here at Ellis. Together, the deep-rooted dark green of the letter forms and the pale green of newly sprouted leaves represent the Ellis ecosystem. Teachers and parents uplift students. Older students inspire younger girls. Alumnae mentor new graduates. In this way, our leaves and branches spread, providing shelter and support to those who come after us.
Our alumnae, students, parents, Board, faculty, and the regional community contributed so much to this process. Whether your time at Ellis is marked by two years or 32 years, you are part of the continuity of this Ellis ecosystem. We thank you for continually challenging us to capture the true Ellis spirit. We invite you to join with us in sharing these messages and building a strong future for our School, and for each and every Ellis girl.
This article originally appeared int he Fall 2013 issue of Ellis Magazine.
Envision Her at Ellis
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