Looking forward to a year of connection

From a distance, the effect is verdant; when you get closer, things look a little more disheveled, the grass squares bumping against one another. In just a few weeks, those pieces will grow together, fusing into one breathtakingly beautiful lawn.

 

Similarly, inspiring growth happens every year in our classrooms and meeting rooms as new administrators, staff and faculty gather for full-on preparations for the upcoming school year. We come together with a spirit of excitement and collaboration, eager to merge ideas, firm up plans and welcome our students and families. School opens on Monday, August 22 – exactly two weeks from today – and we are ecstatic.

 

The senior leadership team will meet all day tomorrow and Wednesday to review our goals, delve into the questions that guide us, finalize our vision for the year and chart the school’s course for 2022-23. New faculty arrive next Monday for two full days of meetings and orientation on both campuses, and they will be joined Wednesday by returning faculty. 

 

This vibrant week of opening meetings will offer time for technology updates, curriculum and schedule reviews, brainstorming for the new year, and simply enjoying the camaraderie – we will be engaging in our first staff-faculty pickleball tournament at the end of the week. It also allows the opportunity for faculty to share what they learned during their various summer explorations. Ransom Everglades is proud to support the professional development of all of our faculty, encouraging them to stretch themselves through in-person or online programs, courses or conferences. Many arrive to campus invigorated.

 

Our students are also getting ready for the start of school. Last week, our upper school football team began practicing, cross country and girls’ volleyball began today, and in the coming weeks other upper school fall sports will be kicking off. (Parents can find the full preseason schedule here.) All of our coaches and athletic personnel are committed to helping our athletics and physical education programs flourish. Corey Goff is serving as the Upper School Director of Athletics; Deb Savino as Middle School Director of Athletics; Franz Huggins as Director of Aquatics; and Michelle Mondell as Physical Education Coordinator for all levels of physical education.

 

The Class of 2023 will assemble briefly on campus on Thursday, August 18, before departing for the annual Senior REreat to the Circle F Dude Ranch, where seniors will enjoy team building and outdoor activities until their return August 20. Members of the Class of 2023 heard from the college counseling office today about their college counselor assignments, positioning them for a strong start to the year as they polish off their personal statements, finalize their college lists and prepare their college applications. We know this class is in terrific hands under the direction of our Executive Director of College Counseling Jason Locke and Director of College Counseling Patrick Tassoni. Jason and Patrick will continue to connect with seniors this week, and they plan to reach out to all upper school parents early next week to share dates for and details about informative new programming for parents at each grade level.

 

Parents will soon be receiving detailed information on the nuts and bolts of the school year. New families have already heard from our Chief Technology Officer Linda Lawrence regarding new student technology sessions on August 20, and they will receive invitations this week to new parent welcome meetings. All parents will hear from their child’s campus head – either Head of the Middle School Eric Boberg or COO and Interim Head of the Upper School David Clark – by email on Friday. Next Monday, Middle School Dean of Students Jimmy Oxsalida and Upper School Dean of Students Petar Solomun will share the Student Handbook and other information. As always, I refer you to our back-to-school page for details about what lies ahead.

 

I hope you share my excitement about the year. As I have noted in my previous communications, we are eager to welcome not just students, but also parents and alumni. We are looking forward to a year of care, connection and growth together so that we as a community – a bit like that La Brisa lawn – will fuse into something increasingly beautiful.

 

Warmest regards,