Like every school in America, lots of things are happening on our two campuses right now. Last week’s highlights included the Upper School Sports Banquet, the Walk-a-thon, and the 3rd-8th grade new family welcome reception. This week brings ERB testing, the JK-2nd New Family Reception, and the Upper School Exhibitions of Learning on Thursday and Friday. Next week, the Upper School students will head off to Argentina and Alaska, while the Los Gatos campus will host the Middle School Musical – “Beauty & the Beast” – always one of the biggest highlights of the year. And, of course, don’t forget the Lower School Exhibition of Learning the following week, the Alumni Reunion, the 8th grade v Faculty volleyball game and……..you get the idea. There are LOTS of things happening.
Over the last few years, many of us have started to refer to this time of year as May-hem or spoken about “the 100 days of May.” I have used those expressions more than once, particularly during the latter part of the month, when I find myself digging deep to find the energy to show up as my best self for a big event. There is certainly something to be said for naming our feelings and for using humor to add a bit of levity and perspective to what can be a very busy time of year.
And, yet, I want to caution all of us, myself included, to avoid the urge to overuse those expressions, or to create the narrative that the goal right now is just to get to the finish line.
I have always loved the rhythms of school. The excitement and optimism of September, the strong sense of gratitude and community in November around Thanksgiving, the nose to the grindstone feel of January and February, the balance of looking ahead and staying in the present moment of March, and, the celebratory spirit of May and early June.
A piece of why I love the rhythms is they create space for us to mark the extraordinary growth that happens for children each and every year. Look at your child today – really look at them – and think back to late August when they started school. Can you believe how much they have grown physically, academically, emotionally, socially? Even as the parent of high school and college students, I am struck by the extraordinary growth my children have experienced over the past eight months.
This next month is the opportunity to pause and reflect on what they have done over the year and to celebrate their growth. There are many events that provide that opportunity for different ages – the Middle School Musical, the Exhibitions of Learning in all their different forms, from 1st and 2nd grade Author’s Walkabout to the public reflections in front of a panel of teachers and parents in high school, and, of course, the recognition and promotion ceremonies for the Class of 2028, our 8th graders who are preparing to transition on to high school.
So laugh about the 100 days of May, fuel up on a little extra coffee, and make sure you don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate with your child and with the community the extraordinary educational experiences of the 2024-25 school year. The days are long, but the years are short. Relish every moment of their childhood. It only happens once.