Bellesini Academy is back in session a week before Labor Day. Our 5th graders began on Tuesday with an Orientation Day specifically for them. They were able to meet their teachers and get comfortable with the bell schedule before the upper school students arrived on Wednesday.

The morning was rainy, but the students arrived with bright smiles and excited energy. When asked at the end of the day to share one word that described their day, students said, "calm", "grateful", "peaceful", "happy".

It's never easy to transition into a new school, so the students' reflections on their perception of Bellesini Academy supported our ultimate goal for them - that they walk these halls feeling safe, welcome, excited, and prepared so that they can engage fully in their learning.

A week before our official first day of school, we welcomed our staff for professional development. Our teachers returned focused on building community, engaging in professional development, and preparing classrooms.

As part of our Back-to-School staff program, families volunteered to host us at their homes for coffee. We were greeted by grandparents, parents, and students. Sitting in living rooms and around dining tables, we viewed photo albums, listened to stories about how families arrived in Lawrence, and met the newest members of the household, including a six-month-old infant, the youngest brother of one of our 7th graders.

Teachers returned to the school feeling better connected to our students and their families. Some even came back holding bouquets of sunflowers gifted from a family's garden! The energy was positive, communal, and energizing.

Our faculty this year includes a new fellow, Paige Wilson, from the Boston College Urban Catholic Teacher Corps (UCTC), and a new 7th/8th-grade Science teacher, Maggie Dow.

Ms. Dow was a former UCTC fellow at Bellesini Academy who remained involved in our summer program after her fellowship ended. She chose to return to our school community after learning about the job opening in our Science department. We are thrilled to start the school year with so many returning faculty and staff, who are all committed to our mission and our students!

The spirit of working in unison to honor our mission also encompasses the commitment of our parents. For two weeks, parent volunteers came in the evening, after their work hours, to physically clean and prepare classrooms. They moved desks and machine-washed our carpets. They deep-cleaned the kitchen, art room, and gymnasium. They prepared the bulletin boards and cleaned cubbies. Through their help, we were able to welcome both faculty and students back to a clean and refreshed environment.

During our first days of school, we prayed daily as a community, a prayer that we will turn to throughout the school year. I share a part of those words with you so that you may hold Bellesini Academy in your prayers and heart throughout this school year.

I am grateful to begin my second year as Head of School surrounded by so much joy and enthusiasm - and to share our journey with so many supporters.

With love and gratitude,