Gray Matters, September 2022
Preparing for a New School Year
Happy Labor Day! I trust folks are enjoying this last weekend of summer.
The past several weeks have been busy ones at Capitol Hill Day School. All staff members–teachers, administrators, facilities crews, and more have been hard at work thoughtfully preparing for the start of this year. The walls of our buildings have a fresh coat of paint; our floors and carpets have been scrubbed and polished. For the past week and a half teachers have been working collaboratively to prepare to greet children on their first day of school.
Needless to say, we can’t wait to see folks starting Tuesday. With our highest enrollment in more than a decade and a robust staff to support our program, I am thrilled to share that this year the Capitol Hill Day School community is larger than it has ever been. It will be wonderful to welcome everyone back to campus.
As I shared in my kick off communication back in the beginning of August, connection is a driving theme for our year. As families in our community, here are two immediate ways you can connect with others:
I hope you will join our community on Saturday, September 10, 1:00-4:00 for our annual Back to School picnic for an afternoon of reconnecting, good food, fun games, and more. This long-standing tradition is one of my favorites, and I look forward to seeing you there.
This fall, we are excited to formally launch FiPA (Families in Partnership Association). FiPA builds community among parents through engagement with each other, the Board of Trustees and the School administration in support of the School’s mission. The program provides an opportunity for parents to support each other as parents, organize faculty and staff appreciation efforts, and welcome new families to the Capitol Hill Day School community. As parents of currently enrolled students, you are already a member! We hope you will get involved with committees and events throughout the year.
I am extremely proud of how our community navigated the early stages of the pandemic. As we begin this new year it is imperative that we keep front and center the fundamental lesson that the pandemic taught us: the essence of public health and safety is an abiding care for each other. Even now, as we loosen protocols this mantra must remain our driving commitment. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of individuals remaining home when they are symptomatic and/or not feeling well. When this is the case, it is imperative that you initiate communication with Imari John (ijohn@chds.org) so that we can coordinate with you regarding a return to school plan. Our continued commitment to these most basic public health practices is essential.
Ever since my early teaching days as a math educator at Capitol Hill Day School, I have been intrigued by the numeric patterns that are frequently found in mundane aspects of life. Often these patterns are quite trivial. Nevertheless, I find meaning in patterns, trivial or not. Here’s a pattern that arose as I was reflecting personally on the start of the year: this year is my 13th year as head of school, my 26th year at Capitol Hill Day School, and I am currently 52 years old. Likely a complete numeric coincidence, but just as patterns are stable and routine, I am taking it as a sign that this will be a year grounded in consistency and full of fantastic learning and growing.
