As a teacher and the Dean of Students, I have the opportunity to see the daily interactions of our students. It is amazing to see the progression of learning and character development that takes place from one year to the next. This year is unique because, for the first time, we have students in each grade level from Kindergarten through 12th Grade. We have a tangible example of what we as parents, teachers, and students are hoping to achieve each year. I can walk into any classroom in our school and understand how the development of habits in our Kindergarten students directly correlates to virtue in our Seniors.
It is hard to believe we have our first Senior class making plans for graduation and the next phase of their lives. This is an exciting time for these 3 students and for our school. As parents and teachers, we invest a tremendous amount of time imparting knowledge, teaching academic and character habits, and cultivating wisdom and virtue into each of our students. As these 3 students make plans for what they will do after they graduate, it is easy to see that the investment we have made is already paying dividends.
Each day that passes throughout this inaugural senior year, my admiration and respect for these 3 seniors continues to increase and my faith in what we are doing as a school strengthens. These students not only know in their minds what our core virtues are and what they mean: they embody these virtues in their lives.
They have been courageous in their willingness to be a part of a small, newly established high school. As the 3 of them complete their college applications, they are realizing how important the habits they have formed are to every area of their lives. They are applying to multiple schools across the nation while simultaneously balancing their academics and extracurricular activities such as competing on the high school golf and tennis teams; attending early morning workouts; and running a ski tuning and waxing business. Without the strength of their well-formed habits, balancing each of these things would be difficult if not impossible.
When I reflect upon the quality of our students, faculty, staff, and parents, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the blessing that it is to be a part of this school community. Although we are navigating the challenges of education with COVID, I remain excited for this school year and for the future.