Gray Matters, December 2025

With Gratitude

With the Thanksgiving holiday newly in our rearview mirror and the winter holidays fast approaching, I want to take a moment to express gratitude. Capitol Hill Day School has much for which to give thanks. I am personally grateful for the support of families, the commitment of my colleagues, and the joyfulness of children. 

As you have likely heard me say, one of the aspects of my position that I most cherish is the opportunity I have to engage with folks from across the wonderful diversity of our community. Put another way, I greatly value the privilege I am given, in my role as head of school, to work at the intersection of children, educators, families, and more. I love to engage with others about Capitol Hill Day School, share stories of our history and the history of our beautiful buildings, and discuss the philosophical underpinnings of our approach to pedagogy and curriculum development. 

As a pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school leader and a parent of three personal children (now all in their 20s!), I am very cognizant of the cultural pressures to rush childhood. At Capitol Hill Day School, we resist these pressures and intentionally design deeply meaningful learning experiences that allow students to fully savor and celebrate this developmental phase of their lives. Walking through Capitol Hill Day School, I am always impressed by the creative and collaborative environment I witness. In particular, I am struck by the engagement of the children, the depth of learning that I observe, and the care in our community. Passing children in the hallway, I am often greeted with a kind “hi, Mr. Gray!” Small groups of children engrossed in a project often welcome me when I open classroom doors. Most importantly, my walkabouts renew my faith in young people and my strong belief in the teaching and learning at our School. 

The Capitol Hill Day School community is warm and wonderful. It is through this community that we collectively create what I believe is an ideal learning environment, one that is simultaneously challenging, joyful, and engaging. With intentionality and authenticity, individuals at Capitol Hill Day School come to know that others in our community are supportive and that learning is a collaborative and cooperative process. It is clear to me that Capitol Hill Day School is a loving environment and a nurturing intellectual community.

Every day, I am grateful to be part of this community of learners, educators, and families. Year in and year out, I watch Capitol Hill Day School students graduate with a strong sense of self, a deep love of learning, and a genuine care for others. Nothing provides me with more joy or gives me a better sense of hope than watching children engage in learning.