The Start of a New Adventure
I have always loved the start of the school year. It brings with it the excitement of new beginnings, the anticipation of new opportunities for growth, learning, and connection. Teachers are eager to get to know their new groups of students and to begin to build their classroom communities, which is so central to our Ellis belief in the importance of learning in community.
As parents and guardians, you have likely seen all kinds of emotions in your children during this first week of school, including joy at seeing old friends and making new ones, curiosity about what their new teachers and classrooms will be like, disappointment about the reintroduction of early morning wakeups, and nervousness about how the year will go. As you read this, you may also be seeing some pretty tired girls, as the transition from summer to school schedules can take a bit of energy.
I’m particularly excited about this year. Yes, I wish we weren’t still dealing with a pandemic, but I am thrilled that all our students will be back on campus and we will be able to do many more of the things we all love. And I couldn’t be more excited for our girls and all they will get to learn and experience this year. They’ll get to know our talented new faculty, and enjoy connecting with our many expert returning teachers. They’ll welcome an amazing group of new classmates who bring a wonderful array of backgrounds and interests. They’ll have opportunities for lots of interdisciplinary learning, chances to tussle with challenging problems, and to express their thinking, questions, and opinions.
I’m particularly excited about this year. Yes, I wish we weren’t still dealing with a pandemic, but I am thrilled that all our students will be back on campus and we will be able to do many more of the things we all love. And I couldn’t be more excited for our girls and all they will get to learn and experience this year. They’ll get to know our talented new faculty, and enjoy connecting with our many expert returning teachers. They’ll welcome an amazing group of new classmates who bring a wonderful array of backgrounds and interests. They’ll have opportunities for lots of interdisciplinary learning, chances to tussle with challenging problems, and to express their thinking, questions, and opinions.
One of my favorite summer moments at Ellis is when we welcome recent graduates back to campus before they head off to college for an informal courtyard gathering. I get to be a fly on the wall as I hear our alumnae and their parents talk about what they’ve done in the summer and what they hope for their college experiences. The graduates are so glad to see each other. They speak with such fondness about their time together at Ellis. They are so ready to seize the opportunities that lie ahead of them.
My deepest wish for all our Ellis students is that they leave us with that same kind of deep connection with each other and all the confidence and skills they will need to soar in their next adventures. My wish for each of your children is that this year is a great step on that journey—one of real growth, learning, friendship, and joy. Let the adventure begin!
