It can be an especially poignant time for seniors and their families as they experience one “last time at Ellis” after another—a final game, a final concert, a final community service activity. As I said to the seniors at their Senior Luncheon in March, my hope for them is that they will savor those “lasts”, cherishing their time with classmates, faculty, staff, and families before they head to their next adventures.

 

This is also the time of year when we find ourselves celebrating students’ achievements in so many ways, whether through induction into honor societies in the Upper School, or through various award ceremonies at the division level. Those are moments of real pride for all of us, as we acknowledge the hard work and achievements of students. I’ve been reflecting a lot lately about what it means to be successful at Ellis and my dreams for all our girls.

One of our core beliefs at Ellis is that there is no one way to be an Ellis girl, and that we want every girl to develop into her own unique self with a strong voice, a passion for life and learning, and the ability to connect in meaningful and authentic ways with others. I want our girls to know that they all have different strengths and interests, that everyone finds some challenges harder than others.

One of the greatest gifts we can give them as teachers and parents is the opportunity to develop a deep understanding of themselves: How do they learn best? What ideas excite them the most? What works best for them when they find something challenging or need support? I believe this learning happens best when girls resist comparing themselves to others and come to appreciate and celebrate the many different ways of being and thinking that they experience when they learn and grow in a richly diverse and supportive community like Ellis.