Message from the Head

Message from the Head

I am honored to have the opportunity to introduce you to the 2022 edition of Derryfield Today. For many years as the spouse of an alumna, Kate Hurlbut Chappell ’93, I have enjoyed reading this magazine as it arrived in our mailbox each fall. The inspiring stories about the accomplishments and work of students, faculty, staff, and alumni of this great school have always been beautifully conveyed and translated to the Derryfield community. I am grateful to Dawn Lohmann, Annie Branch, Elaine Loft, and the many other contributors who work so diligently and thoughtfully to bring all of us the news from Derryfield.

Over the past eight months, since I was appointed Head Elect, I have been fortunate to meet with a wide range of people—students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, parents, and friends of the school—who have shared with me the many ways that Derryfield is special to them. During the interview process, I had a chance to meet with twenty students over lunch, and I was impressed by the range and depth of their questions. The middle schoolers wanted to know what I would do to give them more voice in student leadership, the seniors wanted to know how I would engage them as young alumni, some wanted to know what I like to do for fun, and finally others wanted to know whether we would have more lunch conversations in the future (I’m not sure if it was the free pizza or me!). Through all of this questioning, which I thoroughly enjoyed, it was clear that these students wanted to know if I am kind, if I care, if I would listen, and if I would continue the long tradition of making school a joyful experience at Derryfield. I was encouraged by this conversation because it affirmed for me how important relationships and community are to the people of Derryfield.

In many other conversations since March, students, faculty, staff, trustees, and parents have all confirmed that relationships and community are at the heart of a Derryfield education. For many years, I have seen and heard firsthand the power of those relationships which Kate, her brother, Matt ’92, and their father, Marc, who served as Head of Derryfield from 1982–1994, enjoyed during their time in this community, and I am not surprised that the strong sense of community remains the cornerstone of the Derryfield experience. Family is, of course, a core value at Derryfield, and Kate and I are thrilled for our daughter, Sam, to start her junior year this fall; she is eager to carry on the family tradition as a second-generation Derryfield student.

For this and many more reasons, I am excited (and thankful to the many donors!) that we have broken ground on The Commons, the new dining facility where the campus will literally and figuratively be brought together to gather and connect, to enjoy delicious and healthy food, and to build community and add to the illustrious story of The Derryfield School.

Finally, thanks to all in the Derryfield community for welcoming my family (Kate, Brady, Sam, and our dog Colbie) and me with open arms. In every interaction since my appointment was announced, we have felt welcomed and embraced by all members of the Derryfield community, which speaks volumes about the School and its people—for which we are grateful.

Warmest regards,

Andrew Chappell, Head of School