Reflecting on our 2020-2021 School Year

Dear Families:

“Life has played some funny tricks on me and taken me on a wild ride.

How did I ever get into this wonderful mess that is my life?” — Bo Derek

Every time I plan a new trip, I envision what it will be like long before I actually depart. I picture the scenery, the weather, the experiences. I create a vivid story of where I will go, what will happen, and how I will feel. I happily embrace anticipation until the moment I leave. 

This dreamy version of my journey, however, rarely matches reality. 

In real life, planes are delayed. Thunder claps and rain pours. Restaurants have no tables left. Yet no matter how different my expected version of a trip is than the reality I experience, I am never disappointed. 

Instead, the unexpected tends to lead to unique adventures, hidden gems, and offbeat yet beautiful paths. So rather than being disappointed by my fading daydream, I embrace the true experience with a new appreciation. 

The same goes for the 2020-2021 school year. As I reflect on the long, strange trip it’s been, I realize something surprising: even if this year wasn’t the exact experience we expected, it was still an epic, amazing journey — more so because we navigated it all together. 

We opened. We stayed open. We remained safe and healthy. 

You, our families, adjusted your lives to protect our community. You worked together, kept your kids in masks, and ensured your children followed our health standards. 

Our faculty and staff went above and beyond for our students. They cleaned, took temperatures, and washed hands. They taught online and in-class at the same time. They reinvented their teaching practices, and then did it again. They planned all night and changed their plans in the morning. They were heroes, every day, every moment. 

Our leadership team continued to set an inspiring path forward, and they worked tirelessly to ensure our faculty had everything they needed to succeed. 

Our Trustees supported me, and our entire school community, all year long. 

Along the road, there were certainly dips … yet many more high peaks to provide a new perspective. There were big hurdles ... yet supportive people there to help you clear them. There were huge roadblocks … yet together, we always figured out a way to adjust the path. 

And now, on the official last day of class of the 2020-2021 school year, I can look back at this crazy adventure with affection and gratitude (so, so much gratitude). To have this community, in this year, during this moment in history, makes it the journey of a lifetime.

While I will of course continue to set expectations about the next journey to come, I know that in this school, every situation will shine brighter in real life … because we #shinetogether. 

Enjoy your summer, and shine on-

Alex