From the Head of School

A Message Of Gratitude

Dear Laurel Community,

As I begin my 21st and final year leading Laurel, I am so appreciative of the generosity of this community. Donations from current parents, grandparents, past parents and grandparents, alums, faculty and staff, and friends of Laurel make so many exciting experiences possible for our students. Year after year, the Laurel Fund sustains us, offering important dollars for professional development for faculty and staff and funding unanticipated “extras” like buses to transport our Just Write Ohio team to the State Championship, where our girls performed exceptionally well!

I am pleased that this issue focuses, in part, on Laurel’s longstanding commitment to accessibility. Hope Ford Murphy ’73’s excellent research on the history of scholarship support at Laurel heartens me; we are a school that lives our mission and values, and we do not want socio-economic ability to limit us from admitting bright and talented students.

Many alums who received financial assistance to support their own years at Laurel have made a commitment to do the same for Laurel students of today and tomorrow. Thank you.

A Laurel education is a significant investment for a family; we are pleased to share that 45% of our students receive some form of need-based financial aid; this is a statistic we proudly claim. At the same time, we recognize that costs rise and tuition rises. We are so appreciative of the support so many have offered to this important priority. Many alums who received financial assistance to support their own years at Laurel have made a commitment to do the same for Laurel students of today and tomorrow. Thank you.

A year from now, construction will be underway for the new Ruhlman Family Center at Butler, an extraordinary space for learning that will serve girls, K-12. Over the past two decades, it has been my great privilege to develop an academic vision for the Butler Campus with the faculty and staff and through the incredible philanthropy of many including Alice Lehmann Butler ’49 and John Butler; Mary French Conway ’46 and Bill Conway, and Barbara Peterson Ruhlman ’50. How lucky I have been to come to know and love these devoted members of our Laurel community who have supported our ambition to Dream, Dare, Do.

With much gratitude,

Ann V. KlotzHead of School