September 2012
Minds that seek. Hearts that serve.
An Informational Newsletter about Collegiate’s Kindergarten Admission Process
I
love summer. I love long hot days spent in flip flops and a ponytail (though those 100+ days were a little much), sleeping in a little later, and staying outside a little longer. It could also be the residual excitement I felt about summer as a kid, when I spent weeks in the mountains at camp, or sharing a raft with my sisters in the surf at Sandbridge Beach. This year, summer was made even sweeter by the 2012 Olympics. I am mesmerized by Olympic coverage, and I know I am certainly not alone. Just before the games began this summer, NBC ran a special on the “Top 20 Summer Olympic Moments” from the past, as voted by viewers. I tuned in, expecting to see Americans winning gold medals. Those stories were certainly on the list, but what struck me was the fact that the moments most remembered, which received the most votes, went deeper than that: they included Muhammad Ali, struggling with Parkinson’s, lighting the Olympic torch in 1996… Kerri Strug performing her gymnastics vault through painful injury, sticking her landing on one foot….and British sprinter Derek Redmond, injuring himself early in his 400m semi-final heat, but completing the race regardless, limping across the finish line on the arm of his father. We remember and honor these moments because they reveal something much deeper than skill or talent. These moments show character…the kind of people these athletes are, beyond gold. As you begin your search for a school for your child, you will probably think of these things too, though on a different level. School choice can be about more than what might earn your children “gold.” Think broadly and look beyond stats and figures. Does the school’s mission align with your family’s values? What kind of person will your child grow to be? What will they have learned about themselves and the world around them? What values will they reflect in their character and their daily lives? At the end of the day, we all recognize that the “top moments,” whether in the Olympics, in school, or in life – are about much more than medals. They are about the kind of people we become, the community we live in, and the way we move within it. We are so fortunate in Richmond to have many wonderful educational options, both independent and public. Thank you for your confidence in Collegiate as you begin your search. We are eager for you to visit and uncover for yourselves what makes this place special, as you begin the task of seeking gold – and so much more – for your child. Anne Bruce Ahearn Associate Director of Admission
COLLEGIATE’S SHARED VALUES honor love of learning excellence respect community