Leveling the Playing Field (or what we did on our summer vacation)

This summer I was invited to a conference of new heads of school from across the country. We affectionately dubbed this event Head of School Summer Camp. Many conversations at camp reaffirmed my love for Ellis. Our relationships matter. The closeness we feel to one another is authentic and life affirming. Ellis has the capacity to transform.
When I got back to campus I was amazed by another transformation—that of our athletic field. Our old field was a difficult place to love. Small and bumpy, it was ringed with a sagging fence. Now all that is gone. In a few short months, the old field went from a grassy patch to a huge pile of dirt to a flat, muddy surface. Then one day in mid-July everything changed. The gorgeous new turf was installed. We were all transfixed by this transformation.

This field inspires dreams of glory, not just for athletes, but for every Ellis girl. The Women’s Sports Foundation has noted that nationally 40 percent of girls play team sports. At Ellis, the number is much higher. More than 70 percent of our Middle and Upper School girls play a JV or Varsity sport and, in some classes, the number reaches beyond 90 percent. That’s why this field is so important. It isn’t just for athletes heading to Division I, II, or III schools, but for each and every Ellis girl.

In this issue of Ellis Magazine, we focus on the ways athletics have influenced generations of Ellis women. Sports help women test their physical and mental strength, discover a love of the game, and forge lifelong friendships. Even if you hated every minute of a practice, there is nothing that replaces the confidence and pride that results from competing—especially when you were not sure you had it in you.

When I mentioned Head of School Summer Camp earlier, I didn’t mention that there were roughly 20 new female heads as compared to 70 new males. I was reminded again of the obligation I have to convey to all Ellis girls that you belong on that playing field. Proudly take your place there. Don’t let anyone stop you. Girls and women deserve to be on the field, at the head of the class, and leading the way in the lab, the studio, and the boardroom. This new field is just the beginning. The library and the Middle School are next on our to-do list. The momentum we achieved by completing this field will carry us forward into a future where girls and young women lead, play, and triumph.


This article originally appeared in the Fall 2014 issue of Ellis Magazine.
Back

Envision Her at Ellis

If you're interested in exploring Ellis for your daughter, let's connect! Request information about enrollment, attend one of our upcoming events, or hear about Ellis from those who know it best: our students.