A New Year At Ellis
I am so thrilled to have met many of you and your daughters at our all school picnic yesterday, and I look forward to seeing all the students when we begin school next week.
For many of us, these transitions are filled with anticipation and excitement, and sometimes even a few butterflies in our stomachs. That certainly has been true for me as a teacher. I like to channel the wise words of my first mentor—an exceptional teacher—who used to say that the best teachers always have trouble sleeping before the first day of school, regardless of their years of experience, because they care so much about creating exceptional learning environments for their students.
Our children, of course, each anticipate the start of school in their own ways. Some can’t wait to jump into the rhythm of the school year, while others drag their feet as wake-up times shift earlier and summer activities fade away. My hope is that you will enjoy your weekend together as a family and know that we, at Ellis, are excited and ready to welcome your daughters next week.
One of my favorite aspects of school life is the creation of community that happens every year. Whether it be a kindergarten classroom, an Upper School calculus course, or a Middle School soccer team, we begin each year anew. We might have some familiarity with each other—some students have been together in prior years, and some teachers and students already know each other. But the new school year brings a new beginning for each group. As Head of School at Ellis, one of my top priorities is for us to create a strong sense of community in each classroom, to move from those first tentative days of school as students and teachers all get to know each other, to a place of real connection that allows students to feel equally challenged and supported while growing in their sense of their individual unique selves and their strong communal bonds. I believe this has been a key to Ellis’ ability to be an exceptional school, and will continue to be a key as we move forward. I can’t wait to begin this journey with you and your daughters.
Let the joy and learning begin!
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.
