Message from Head of School

A MESSAGE FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL DAVID G. PERFIELD

Dear Oldfields Community, My goal for the summer has been to slow down. My guess is that many of us do not know what that truly feels like. Pause. Stop. Look up. Look around. Don’t rush on to the next thing. Pay close attention to your senses, taking in what you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. Capture your thoughts and follow where they take you. Reflect. Repeat often— and whenever necessary. After a year like no one could have ever imagined, I have focused on balance and revisiting the fundamentals that are essential to the Oldfields Core Experience that our students benefit from every day. I’ve been less focused on my lists, meetings, and deadlines. As is often the case when an organization is faced with challenging times, this past year forced us to examine who we are and what the “non-negotiables” are when it comes to an Oldfields education. It also raised important questions. How did our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion inform and influence our daily commitment to each and every one of our community members—and their experience at Oldfields? Looking through an equity lens, what school policies need to be updated? How will our new Mission Statement, the root of our Strategic Plan, help drive our planning in other priority areas and ultimately move the School forward? What are the School’s strategic goals? How do these goals advance the Core Experience? Are there resources available to support these goals? These are just a few of the questions I reflect on when considering the past academic year and the near and distant future of this historic school.

As I begin my fourth year as the Head of School, I consider the direction in which we are heading and the ways in which we will continue to honor the extraordinary vision of our courageous founder, Anna Austen McCulloch. I also think about our students and faculty, especially after what we experienced, and accomplished, during the 20202021 school year. To say I admire their commitment and resilience would be an understatement. This past school year was a success, not only because we delivered an in-person learning experience for the entire year culminating in a traditional Graduation on June 5, but also because of the lessons we learned during a journey that took us into uncharted territory. We’ve Lisa and David Perfield with daughters, Anna and Lexi, at Graduation gotten better at recognizing when we should listen more closely and apologize for mistakes. We’ve been reminded that humility is a value that’s at the heart of what we do every day—and I believe it’s a characteristic that’s permanently embedded in our students and graduates. We will remain a work in progress, and that is a good place to be, as long as we continue to learn while staying true to ourselves and our mission. In April 2021, Oldfields hosted the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools Ten-Year Accreditation Visiting Committee. Their visit was the capstone of a two-year self-study process and an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to demonstrate how Oldfields provides an exceptional educational experience for adolescent girls. In the debriefing session their feedback was robust. I was amazed by how well the Chair and her team knew Oldfields—they “got us.” As the visit came to an end, the Chair proceeded to share one last highlight saying, “As the committee was wrapping up, I asked everyone, ‘If I were to share one takeaway from this experience with David and his team, what would it be?’” The answer was worth waiting for.

“Tell them we all feel inspired by what’s happening here.”

My first thought was “I couldn’t agree more! Every day I am inspired by our caring community, the way we are invested in one another’s success and well being, and the way in which we embrace each student’s authentic self and celebrate them for who they are.” As you peruse the content throughout this magazine, I hope you too feel inspired by what’s happening at Oldfields. We provide our students with a wide-range of opportunities that are intended to help them grow and explore—and we look for ways to build confidence and develop leadership skills, regardless of previous experiences and future goals. That’s how they find themselves! Wherever you have “paused” to read this letter (and the following pages), I wish you peace of mind, strength, and future days full of kindness and good health. We’ve all learned valuable lessons since the COVID-19 pandemic struck in early 2020, and I believe Oldfields School is stronger today because of our creativity and commitment to the fundamentals that shape the Oldfields Experience for our students.

As we enjoy the remainder of the summer and begin a new school year, I will ask for your continued help in serving as an ambassador for Oldfields. Sharing your Oldfields story

with a neighbor, a colleague, or a friend might open a door for a student who needs a place to live, learn, and grow in a school that feels like home.

With a slightly “Larger Heart,”

David G. Perfield P'29, '31 Head of School

David Perfield presents a beaming Diana Santos with her diploma.

David and Isabella "Izzy" Griffith celebrate the finish at Green and White 5K. Barbara Latrobe and David are excited to add her name to the list of winners of the McCulloch Family Award.

“Everyday I am inspired by our caring community, the way we are invested in each other’s success and well being, and the way in which we embrace each student’s authentic self, and celebrate them for who they are.”