A row of trees lines the fence that separates the Osborne Tennis Courts from Big Blue. Over my years at Belmont Day—this year will be my ninth—I have come to anticipate that one of those trees, the last of the line as you move towards Claflin Field, usually offers an early signal that fall and a new school year are around the corner.
Autumn is my favorite season, thanks to a lifetime of living in New England. The shock of orange leaves among the green lets me know that Mother Nature herself has noticed that, after a week of faculty meetings and preparation, we are ready for the end of summer and the start of a new school year.
This week, our halls have filled again with the sounds of joyful connection. There were cautious steps into new spaces, new responsibilities in and beyond the classroom, and the renewed pursuit of excellence for students and faculty alike. And we are ready.
This summer, the administrative team has reflected on the feedback we solicited from parents in the spring. Our work has been comprehensive. We designed a new smart device policy for students. We aligned our behavior management guidelines with our six core values. We designed curriculum review schedules and practices for the coming year to sharpen our focus on teaching and learning.
Through it all, our goal will be to keep it simple as we meet the promise of inspiring and challenging every student.
For my part, summer was great the way it is always—time for relaxing, reflecting, and considering the things that can often get swept up in the pace of the school year. But nothing beats that first shock of orange along the path to Claflin Field, and nothing beats the start of a new year at Belmont Day. Welcome back, everyone.
