Head of School's Blog

Last night we celebrated a tradition we started around ten years ago, where we all meet for a community dinner in Smith Commons and then head to the Shonk Recital Hall to share gratitude. At dinner, we were asked to fill out a small piece of paper sharing an area of growth or an accomplishment from the fall that we are proud of. We had a nice discussion about these questions at my table.

At our gratitude ceremony, I start by sharing a list of things I am grateful for, then ask the room if anyone wants to share something they are thankful for. It usually takes a minute for someone to share something, but last night we hit the ground running, and I had to end things after 30 minutes of sharing! It was funny, powerful, and touching all at once. Students talked about their teachers and advisors. They shouted out to their friends and spoke about their parents and siblings. I don’t think I have ever experienced so much energy in that space during the dark days of November!

And new this year, we were thrilled that the Parents’ Association had a dinner and dessert for parents that we could join afterwards. All in all, it was a truly special night. Below is the list I worked from in my speech. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving vacation!

Things I am Grateful For:

Morning Meeting
The meal we just ate
The Senior Class
And the thought and preparation they are putting into their senior pres.
Sunrises with fog in the valley
Paul and Nancy Lehmann and their enduring vision for Dublin School
Parents, grandparents, and donors who are supporting the operations of our school through tuition and donations
Lynn Johns
Our Board of Trustees and their love for the school
Nor'easter snowstorms that dump large amounts of snow on campus
My dog Zinnia, with whom I get to ski next week. 
Faculty and their deep care for our students
The head of school search and the hiring of Sam Bicknell
Our students and their commitment to their growth and learning.
All the people who work behind the scenes to make the school work
Our beautiful campus
Anne Mackey and our entire leadership team
The new Nielsen Outdoor Campus
Students who show up with kindness when others are struggling
My lunch table today,  and our discussion of Abbot Elementary, and The English Teacher
The Placid Trail at the Outdoor Center, where I go every day to center myself
Classes without smartphones
Drake Maye and the New England Patriots
Young people who are courageous enough to perform on stage
Conversations on the quad
Our new faculty and staff
My incredible wife Lisa and my children Calvin and Lilly
90 Years of Dublin School
Dublin General Store cookies
Every moment I get to watch you all playing sports
J Term coming up
That we are all about to get a break from one another
And, of course, I am grateful for the edamame in the salad bar