Message from the Head of School

IT IS A UNIQUE experience to immerse oneself in the achievements and celebrations of Country Day with the perspective of a new Head of School. As you can imagine, it is a learning journey. Some have asked me if it is overwhelming to “drink from the fire hose” these early weeks. Unequivocally, my answer is no. It is inspiring! Each dialogue I have—with a member of the staff, a parent, or a student—deepens my admiration and my excitement. This issue of Perspectives is no exception. It speaks to the extraordinary achievements of our community and the commitment to come together and maximize opportunities as Covid restrictions finally eased.

First, I am inspired by the achievements of our students. There is the amazing resilience of our Class of 2022, who—despite the flux imposed by Covid—strove together and shined as scholars and community leaders. They merit our pride and our admiration as they move into the next stage of their education and life journey. There is also the success of our students in multiple arenas this past spring: in athletics, the arts, and academic competitions. What a joy to see their myriad achievements! These stand as reminders of how dedicated our students are at Country Day.

I am also inspired by the strong sense of community that resonates throughout this issue. The extraordinary generosity and commitment of our parent community who made “Fall in for the Country Day Fund” and the “All School Celebration and Auction” resoundingly successful efforts; the dedication of our Board of Trustees who partnered with the school through unpredictable times and united with the community to create a faculty endowment in honor of David Mancos; the amazing work in so many capacities of our parent volunteers who kept the Country Day spirit vibrant in events such as “Big Saturday 2022,” and finally Country Day’s ongoing commitment to living as an authentic and inclusive community in the context of its Strategic Plan for DEIB.

I would be remiss if I did not call attention to the inspiring words of our teachers in “Why I Teach.” What shines through is the deep attention to our students’ well-being, the passion for making learning relevant and dynamic, and the awareness of how important their mentoring can be in the lives of our students. I cannot wait to learn more about our great teachers in the months ahead!

This issue of Perspectives not only speaks to the resilience of the past, it also reminds us of the wonderful opportunities ahead of us. To borrow the words of Bill Zimmern, our Board Chair for the 2022-23 school year, it is “an exciting new era.” I look forward to the further inspiration this year will bring!

Marcel Gauthier Head of School