Thank You, Faculty and Staff
Dear parents,
This week at our final faculty meeting, we were privileged to hear from Dr. Robert Evans, an expert on the human side of school change. His experience visiting schools around the country helped shed light on commonly shared dilemmas in PK-12 education, as well as the value of open, constructive conversation about opportunities for growth. At the end of his candid and thought-provoking presentation, Dr. Evans encouraged us to individually convey our appreciation for our colleagues’ professional work, and we later shared some of these as a group. They included expressions of gratitude for:
- our coaches, many of whom are also teachers
- our After School Program team
- our dining staff
- our facilities and grounds crew
- our business office staff
- the faculty and staff dialogue in SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity)
- our hardworking and loyal administrative assistants
These people—together with all of our teachers and staff members—help to make the Tower Hill experience exceptional for our students. There are many more people, programs, activities and highlights for which to be grateful as we officially close the 2016-2017 school year, some of which include:
- completion of a school-wide strategic planning process
- new service learning partnerships and a Season of Service
- three state championships in athletics
- the first students to complete the Global Scholar Certificate Program
- introduction of Mandarin in Middle and Upper School
- more focus on and creation of student leadership opportunities
- faculty attendance at the NAIS Annual Conference in Baltimore
- a 15% increase in prospective student applications
- a Tower Term to look forward next year in the Upper School
- national hiring practices resulting in excellent teachers and administrators who will be joining the Tower Hill community
- wonderful Lower School Town meetings
- glorious musical concerts and theater productions
- amazing parent volunteers through Home and School and Green and White
After our closing meetings this week, the faculty and staff convened at Hayward House for our annual faculty/staff reception at which we all took time to celebrate the end of the year, the beginning of summer, and most importantly the contributions, talents and connections of all of our colleagues in this incredible community. The administrative group is now gathered for a two-day retreat at which we are focused on priorities for next year, welcoming our new administrators, teachers and students, as well as, ensuring we are well prepared to reach for the stars for all of our students!
I extend a heartfelt thank you for sharing your children with us. Soak in all summer has to offer and we look forward to hearing about all the adventures you and your children experience over the summer.
Sincerely,
Bessie
