"Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all."
Alexander the Great
Dear FA Families,
In schools sometimes there can be a tendency to group the members of a certain grade by class, as in the Third Grade class or the Junior class. Various dynamics and even personalities within a class can dominate and shape the culture within a class or at least influence certain segments of a class. Truth is those dynamics can turn out to be both positive or negative, and our goal as adult leaders within the school is to recognize these influences early on and reinforce the positive and eliminate the negative.
This year, largely as a result of all of the Covid-related restrictions inhibiting the gathering in larger groups, most class meetings are held virtually; and the tendency at least in the Upper School is to see groups as more multi-age and activity oriented as in the drama or music productions or the athletic teams rather than as grade-level class groupings. More importantly, at least for me, the Covid ground rules for the year have caused me to spend less time thinking about individual students as members of a certain class and more time simply seeing, interacting, and appreciating them as individuals.
In that light, I have come to especially appreciate and respect each and every member of this year’s senior class, all of whom graduated yesterday morning. To a person, each student’s journey through Upper School has been unique, and each has demonstrated a goodness and strength about them that is admirable. Each has made his/her own contribution to their friend groups, their classes, their teams, their interest groups, each has unearthed and/or carved out their own pathway through these years; and the school has been ably led and inspired by the efforts and accomplishments of these seniors. Individuals in this class have served as the formal leaders of almost every activity here at school and countless more times they have served as unofficial or informal leaders, modeling for others how to wear that mantel of leadership with humility and honor. In all of the major student-led organizations on campus including Student Council, the Honor Council, all fine arts productions and sports teams, and major service efforts, members of the Class of 2021 have distinguished themselves.
One of the most effective and powerful advertisements for our school in the community is our students … how they present themselves, how they get along with others, how thoughtfully they set goals and how hard and smart they work towards those goals .. and that is especially true for our graduates. Alexander’s maxim rings home. Those traits all reflect both on the graduates as individuals and on the school environment in which they have been raised.
I am extremely proud of and thankful for all of the members of this Class of 2021. Individually they have distinguished themselves time and again in an array of arenas, and they have left a positive legacy in their wake. On behalf of the teachers and staff who have worked with and supported each and every one of them over their time at FA and who consider them friends, we wish them all the best in this next chapter of their lives and beyond.
Respectfully,
Scott L. Hutchinson
Head of School
