Springing into a New Semester
After a well-deserved winter break, students at all levels are back in action. We are excited to be welcoming new students on each campus for the spring semester.
Our Middle School boarding program, which was reintroduced this fall, has now expanded and is filling both the boys’ and girls’ Middle School dorms. At the College, an impressive group of new students representing far-flung states across the U.S. as well as Australia, Colombia, Germany, and Kenya arrived on campus for the new term.
Upper School seniors delivered inspiring senior speeches from Ridgway stage last month, sharing personal stories, honoring family members and mentors, and often reflecting on lessons learned. At last week’s winter convocation, four College students shared insightful talks on how they have applied this year’s Principia-wide metaphysical theme—“. . . freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8)—in their lives. You can listen to a recording of convocation on Principia Internet Radio.
Auditions for the School’s Spring Production (42nd Street) are complete, and roles have been assigned. Upper School students in the Field and Natural History class just returned from the weeklong Tetons trip, an interdisciplinary program that combines science, writing, and art at the Teton Science Schools in Wyoming. For the next several weeks, the Upper School is hosting a group of students and their teachers from China; it’s a wonderful opportunity for cultural exchange on both sides.
Even before classes started at the College, a fully subscribed Career Conference gave students the chance to hear from a panel of recruiters, hone resumes and cover letters, participate in mock interviews, and benefit from critiques. The conference regularly receives strong reviews from student participants.
This past Saturday, Crafton Athletic Center hosted an indoor track meet and a swimming and diving meet simultaneously. It was awe-inspiring to see both ends of the building in full use. The natatorium reverberated with splashes and cheers on one side while high jumpers, hurdlers, shot putters, and our own nationally ranked pole vaulter drew crowds on the track at the other end. That night, after competitors from all the other schools had departed for home, Crafton was transformed for the College’s annual dodgeball tournament. Great fun—and many laughs—filled the space throughout the night!
Last month, I enjoyed visiting alumni and friends of Principia as well as prospective students at three Principia Today events in Florida. Next up: If you’re in the Bay Area, please mark your calendar and RSVP for our next networking event on Saturday, February 27, in Berkeley. We have a wonderful lineup of speakers and breakout sessions planned.
Back on the College campus, we are about to enjoy a series of remarkable speakers from around the world:
- Tonight, February 4, at 7:30 p.m. (CT), you can tune in on Principia Internet Radio to hear our 2016 Ernie and Lucha Vogel Moral Courage Lecturer Dr. Yang Jianli, a Chinese pro-democracy activist who was released from prison in 2007.
- Next Tuesday, February 9, Annenberg Visiting Scholar Caroline Watson, founder and director of Hua Dan, a leading social enterprise in China, will speak in Wanamaker Hall.
- On Thursday, February 25, we will host Monitor Night Live, featuring Christian Science Monitor correspondents dotting the globe in a discussion moderated by Monitor Editor Marshall Ingwerson. Tune in to listen live on Principia Internet Radio at 7:30 p.m. (CT).
Enriching lives by offering exceptional educational opportunities is rewarding work. Thanks for your help in spreading the word about all that Principia offers students today.
If you know a family or student who might like to experience the Principia difference, please make sure they know about our generous visiting program. Both the School and College have four Visiting Weekends scheduled for this spring, and independent visits may be arranged as well. We offer financial assistance for transportation and love welcoming students and families to our campuses!