Head of School Blog

One of my favorite parts of every new school year is connecting with our youngest and oldest students. I visit with our youngest students to read a couple of books—usually one about friendship and one with plenty of funny voices to bring out a few giggles, and we talk about being a good friend and the excitement of school. This is also the time of year when Mrs. Miller and I visit eighth-grade students to discuss what it means to be a leader at All Saints’, how they can enjoy their final year, and how to prepare for high school and beyond.

Today we welcomed our All Saints’ community back to campus for the first day of the 2024–25 school year! The energy was extra special this year—parents and kids were hugging, teachers were smiling at their doors, and everyone was talking about their summer explorations and the quick transition back to being together.

One of my favorite things about the field of education is that every year is on a cycle. Every year, students evolve and change, faculty members refine their practices, and the flow of the school year begins with celebration and ends with reflection. Traditions and community hold us together in this constant pattern of evolution and growth, which helps us feel excited about the future and appreciative of the past. 

Every summer, our faculty and staff read a few suggested books, and here are this summer's picks:

Working with a team to create a restaurant. Writing and performing a commercial. Designing a menu and presenting it to peers. Writing recipes. Creating a cooking video. Competing to win a salsa competition. All in Spanish. 

As part of our mission to serve a world in need, our Spanish department strives to build a foundation for global citizenship through the study of language. Studying a world language is so much more than vocabulary and syntax. It teaches empathy, understanding, cooperation, and appreciation of cultural diversity and inclusivity. Completing hands-on and collaborative activities like the salsa competition and restaurant project are great opportunities for the language to come alive for students. This is certainly not how I learned Spanish in middle school!

I can hardly wait for the premiere of our Theater department’s spring musical this week, Into the Woods Jr! Over the past few months, Ms. Balogh and several of our middle school students have spent countless hours working on the production. I am so proud of their hard work and dedication. The students are all very excited to share their work with the All Saints’ community this weekend.