Ready, Set, Go . . . The New School Year Is Off and Running!
Our academic buildings and athletic fields are brimming with learning, laughter, and color as more than 400 students representing 32 states and 12 countries kick off the new school year. Of course, it wasn’t exactly all peace and quiet before the first day of school on August 27—since more than 180 upper schoolers were already on campus for the residential pre-season sports camps. The girls’ tennis team christened the newly resurfaced tennis courts, and our soccer players look forward to playing on the all-new Mesa field after the new grass takes hold.
While students were in training, so were our teachers! Fall workshops and refreshers prior to the term included sessions on Math in Focus, a program introduced into the Lower and Middle School curricula last year. In addition, experienced educator and author Joan Smutny, who heads up the Center for Gifted in Illinois (and is a practicing Christian Scientist, too), delivered a presentation on techniques for supporting advanced students. Later in the fall, during an in-service training day in November, all faculty and administrators will be attending the ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States) conference, which is being held in St. Louis.
An important aspect in starting the new school year is building strong relationships among students—returning and new—and faculty members so that they have a shared sense of purpose and progress. Thus, each level is engaging in various types of orientation or icebreaker activities. For instance, tomorrow all three Middle School grades will enjoy an afternoon of fun and games (and barbecue!) at nearby Castlewood State Park. And on Saturday, the senior class will host the annual Upper School Icebreaker, whose theme is always kept top secret!
At the Upper School, students, faculty, and parents were treated to appreciative and amusing reminiscences about School life by Principia stalwarts Everett Bay (US’43, C’50), Bill Simon (US’54), and Hank Hamlin (US’41, JC’43) as part of an orientation program. (Bay and Hamlin attended Principia while founder Mary Kimball Morgan was still actively involved with the institution, and Simon holds the distinction of being the only man to ever serve as Upper School dean of girls!)
In addition, students and faculty are considering how their thinking affects their actions and can, indeed, change the world. In fact, the spiritual theme chosen for this year to guide and infuse all academic and extracurricular activities on both the School and College campuses relates to this challenge. It is Mary Baker Eddy’s counsel to “hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true . . . .” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 261).
Here’s to a wonderful year of holding to what’s true!