Gray Matters, September 2026
Honoring the First Day of School
At the end of the summer, as I reflected on the start of the new year, I did a little math. Adding up my years in school (grade school and higher education) with my years as an educator, I realized that Tuesday will be my 49th first day of school. Mostly, this fact is a simple measure of my age!
So, it probably goes without saying, I do not have specific memories from my first day of school as a student. I do know that I was a shy and quiet child. I can only imagine my first, first day of school was one with a hefty dose of apprehension and trepidation, and a tinge of excited anticipation.
On the other hand, my memories of my first day of school as a teacher are vivid. It was September 5, 1995. I was an enthusiastic young Capitol Hill Day School educator excited for the year ahead teaching Physical Education and working in After School. Early that first morning, as I stood eagerly waiting for the front doors to open and the year to commence, I distinctly recall a momentary exchange with a seasoned teacher. She asked with genuine interest, “How are you feeling?” I shared my mixed emotions—sincere excitement and nervous energy. She quickly responded, “Me, too.”
I believe that first days of school are a human-centric ritual very much worth honoring. Whether this is your child's first year at Capitol Hill Day School, their first day moving up to a new division, or the start of 8th Grade, I encourage you to lean into all that they and you may be experiencing. Embrace the joy, messiness, apprehension, and exhilaration. This is the beauty of being human. Our relationships and connections matter. Clearly, the validation and affirmation I received from my colleague on my first day as an educator still has a positive impact on me all these many years later.
As we begin this new year, we continue to focus on what makes us most human. We are committed to helping nurture children through the process of becoming humans who are empathetic, resilient, curious, critical thinkers. This is the joy and privilege in our work with children.
