As I reflect on our experience this year, I couldn’t be prouder of the work everyone has done in the Ellis community to continue to learn and grow together—despite daily COVID-19 screenings, universal masking, social distancing, and so many frustrating restrictions around how we have had to operate. We’ve been remarkably healthy on campus, with very limited cases among students, faculty, and staff and no spread within the school community from those cases. I am so deeply grateful to everyone—faculty, staff, students, and families—for all the patience, flexibility, and hard work this has required.

I would never wish this year on anyone again, but I do want to lift up one of the real unasked-for gifts the year has given us at Ellis, which is a chance to witness just how resilient our students are. While there have certainly been moments of increased isolation, stress, and worry, our students have continued to think deeply in their classes, to engage in meaningful work and conversations with each other and their teachers, to play hard on the athletic fields, to laugh on the playground, to perform with great abandon in their reimagined plays and concerts, to make lovely art in our studios, and to care deeply about each other.  It’s not in the least surprising to me, given our school’s emphasis on growing strong and confident children and young adults, but it’s been very inspirational to see our students rise so beautifully to the challenges of this year.

My greatest hope for all of us is a 2021-2022 school year with fewer unasked for challenges, and ever-increasing opportunities for us to connect, learn, grow, and celebrate as a school community.