REMARKS FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear MBS Family & Friends, Occasionally we take leaps of faith and wonder if reality will match our dreams. When I left a small island in the Caribbean to lead an independent school in suburban New Jersey, I had a sense of the community’s strength and support systems. Impressed by its studentcentered philosophy, I hoped my daily interactions would match the promise. As I reflect on my first academic year at MBS, it is fair to say the experience has simply exceeded my expectations. Though our families and alumni understand how special this place is, in some ways Morristown Beard School has been New Jersey’s best kept secret for some time. While there’s something precious about being a hidden gem, the secret is out. Perhaps one of the most profound outcomes of the pandemic is the revelation that protecting the mental health and wellbeing of young people is developmentally essential and leads to adults who experience healthier, more fulfilled lives. MBS has long believed that each student should be known, nurtured, and encouraged to find a sense of belonging. For some, that means tinkering in a science lab while for others it’s the stage or center field. Students are taught to practice intellectual risk-taking with the realization that it is okay, even brave, to change course. In this way, Morristown Beard is ahead of the curve. Our focus on balance and wellness has long been a cornerstone of the MBS philosophy, even as it gains momentum elsewhere. Proud to be leaders, we recognize that we cannot become complacent. Adopted in 2021, our Strategic Plan will continue to guide us in the coming years and help us enhance every facet of the student experience. As you may know, the plan has five pillars: Academic Program, Wellness, DEIB, Experiential Learning, and Enrollment Management. In order to fulfill the promise of each pillar, we need to further assess our facilities. We recently met with an architectural firm to begin envisioning our Campus Master Plan. They call this the “Dream Phase,” in which students, faculty, families and alumni are surveyed and asked to consider how our facilities can best align with our community’s needs. Some of the areas we are looking at include: the dining hall, ways to integrate wellness across campus, parking, the athletic center, and studio arts. Yet there are so many possibilities. 2
Crimson Spring 2022
Perhaps you have heard of—or been given—the “paper clip” test. Premised on the research of psychologist J.P. Guilford, it’s an assessment of creativity. Imagine you have a paper clip. How many alternate uses can you list? The ability to envision multiple solutions to a problem lays at the core of creativity, which Guilford labeled divergent thinking. The most creative thinkers come up with dozens of alternate uses and wonder: what if the paper clip was ten feet tall? What if it was made out of yarn? It’s that type of divergent thinking I hope to capture as we envision Morristown Beard’s future. What if we boldly think of a classroom as more than walls? Or experiential learning as the embodiment of our ethos? I’m excited by the possibilities and to see what our community creates. Looking ahead marks another important transition—the conclusion of John Fay’s tenure as a board member and President of the Board of
