Quad Head of School
Breaking Bread
BY TODD B. BLAND, HEAD OF SCHOOL
4
Milton Academy
i recently shared with the Milton community my plan to step down as head of school at the end of the 2022–23 academic year. Although this is far from a farewell message—there are almost two years and much work to be done—I have already begun to reflect on the many gifts Milton Academy has given to my family and me. ■ By far, the greatest of these gifts are the connections with thousands of students, colleagues, alumni, families, and friends who have enriched our lives. I hold their stories close—be they funny, moving, tragic, epic, or small—as touchpoints that color personalities and biographies, as conversations that have expanded my understanding of the world. ■ In this issue, we focus on food and the many ways it fosters and strengthens these connections. The stories shared over meals are more personal, more familiar, because of the intimate nature of dining together. Even if you start as relative strangers, good conversation and sharing a wonderful meal create lasting impressions and memories. Food is something to celebrate on its own, of course, but sharing a meal together is about so much more; it’s about stories, connection, and the love that goes into preparing—or receiving—the meal. ■ Food itself tells the story of the people who prepared it: Food holds our history and our culture, individual dishes demonstrate human evolution and our movement around the globe, meals together highlight our customs of sharing, and cooking centers our families and friends. Centuries-old faith traditions call for holy fasts and feasts that are still celebrated today. The way a culture prioritizes meals and mealtimes can shed some light on the priorities of its people. ■ I have treasured the privilege of traveling on behalf of our School, whether I’ve visited families and alumni as far away as Hong Kong and Seoul, or our sister school, El Pilar, in Ma-
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HEAD OF SCHOOL TODD BLAND TREASURES HIS TIME SHARING MEALS WITH MEMBERS OF THE MILTON COMMUNITY
