Board Briefing

a message from H. WARD CLASSEN ’71 the chairman of the board of trustees

The recent economic uncertainty has affected us all, including Calvert. Calvert has transitioned from classroom teaching to distance learning focused on the needs of each student. Individualized in-person graduations were held for our Eighth Graders and their families in June complete with music, flowers, a speech by Mr. Buck, and the traditional signed plaque. We are extremely grateful for the flexibility and resilience our students, administration, and staff have shown over the past several months.

The Board of Trustees has spent the past year focusing on the inter-relationship of tuition, development, and enrollment. We understand that even though Calvert has the lowest tuition of the major private schools in Baltimore, parents are still making a significant financial commitment to send their children to Calvert. This is especially true in today’s uncertain economic times. Presently, 33% of Calvert students receive financial aid. In the coming years, we will continue to focus on making Calvert affordable to all students, and consistent with that goal we have created an emergency financial aid program to assist those parents whose financial situations have changed with the economic climate.

Nearly 50 years ago this spring, I graduated from Calvert. I left with an education that cultivated intellectual curiosity, championed creative problem solving, and placed an unwavering emphasis on the pillars of compassion, honor, responsibility, and respect. Calvert is a place where students are taught that strength of character and a love of learning will enable them to utilize their education to achieve their goals and make the world a better place. I saw this firsthand recently when I attended an event Molly Baldwin ’71 held to discuss Roca, an organization she founded to help many of society’s at-risk individuals and reduce recidivism. Read more about Molly’s important work on page 46.

Despite the challenges we face, Calvert students have continued to persevere and thrive. This year, students from Calvert’s Class of 2020 received more than 150 acceptances to high schools in Baltimore and beyond. Our high school seniors from the Class of 2016 received college acceptance letters from the nation’s most selective colleges and universities. (See the full high school and college lists on pages 9 and 57.) Finally, our Class of 2012 will prepare for the workforce this summer, utilizing CalvertConnect. com for job networking opportunities.

While impressive, Calvert’s true focus is on the Kindergarten through Eighth Grade experience and on ensuring a strong academic program, both in the classroom and through online offerings. This includes an emphasis on character development and leadership opportunities for Lower and Middle School students. By the end of their Calvert journey, our boys and girls have a clear understanding of who they are as learners and can confidently advocate for themselves in high school and beyond.

We will continue measuring our performance to ensure Calvert remains a leader in Kindergarten through Eighth Grade education and remains focused on producing leaders in all aspects of life. Calvert’s successes are solely due to your support and our dedicated faculty and staff. Thank you all for your support of Calvert.

Sincerely,

H. Ward Classen ’71 Chairman of the Board of Trustees