Dear Elisabeth Morrow Families,

What a remarkable week it has been! The energy and excitement on campus have been truly wonderful — a fitting start as we celebrate our 95th anniversary and begin the countdown to our centennial, guided by the strategic plan we collectively created this past spring.

Thank you for entrusting your children's education to us and for sharing in our mission to educate curious scholars, global citizens, and ethical leaders. Your partnership has helped us achieve our highest opening day enrollment in seven years, and our retention rate is the best we've seen in six years. It’s a powerful testament to our commitment to academic excellence, coupled with the warmth and vibrancy of our community.

This has been a remarkably smooth start. As I was helping one of our Little School students out of her car one morning, I asked how her first day was. She beamed and said, "It was amazing!" When I told her I hoped today would also be great, she replied with confidence: "I know it will be."

I’m seeing that same excitement throughout the school. I had a wonderful chat with a sixth grader who is absolutely thrilled about her science class. She couldn’t stop talking about how much she loves studying Earth science, geophysics, and geology. Her passion for understanding our planet is inspiring, and it's a common joy at EMS to see a student so excited about what they're learning.

Our older students are just as engaged. I checked in with an eighth grader who told me she was off to a great start. She's already looking ahead, asking if we'll be offering AP courses again this year because she's hopeful she can take one. This is but one example of the confidence and dedication of our students. We know they are infinitely capable, and they very quickly come to understand this, too.

Yesterday, our first convocation of the year brought together our Little School and Morrow House students. It was an inspiring morning, especially hearing from our student council co-presidents, Alan and Arabelle. They announced their theme for the year: "bringing the school together." They shared their hopes for the student body, including new initiatives like a peer pen-pal program to build friendships across different grade levels and expanding the Buddy Day program so older students can help out at Little School during lunch and recess. Their message was a powerful reminder that our students are empowered to lead and shape our community.

The Parents Association Breakfast this morning was also a beautiful reminder of our incredible community of parents and caregivers. This joyous occasion offered a chance to reunite after the summer and for us all to welcome our newest families. As I was speaking with two fathers, we shared both the joys and challenges of raising children. We reflected on the "blessing of the skinned knee," recognizing that real growth happens when children are given the chance to take reasonable risks, face setbacks, and build resilience. I encourage you to join us for a communitywide conversation on this very theme at my upcoming book talk on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 20.

In the weeks ahead, please stay connected with us, and be sure to look for “This Week at EMS” in your inbox each Sunday morning to stay informed about important upcoming action items.

Whether you are on campus for events — such as our divisional new family breakfasts or our upcoming back-to-school nights — or would simply like to drop in for coffee with me, I look forward to seeing you soon.

Wishing you and your family a restorative weekend ahead.

In partnership,

Marek Beck, Ph.D.

Head of School