Reflections on What Was Lost... and Found

WE DID IT!

REFLECTIONS ON WHAT WAS LOST... AND FOUND

By Assistant Head of School Caroline Blaum

As summer shifted my professional attention to the 2021-2022 school year, I found myself reflecting on the unfathomable accomplishments that not only made this past school year a possibility, but a life-changing experience for all. Our students have now spent more than a year living and learning in a world of uncertainty, fear, and change. For the first time, there is no adult on our campus (or any other!) who can relate to the high school experience of today's young people. With limited in-person connection with peers and health and safety protocols prioritized over nearly every aspect of their teenage lives, our Oldfields students managed to find a way. Every day. Through face coverings and plexiglass, I saw first impressions flourish into best friendships. Amidst a worldwide reckoning with systemic racism and injustice, I watched students lead the actions for change, creating our Community Norms of Engagement that are now threaded throughout our daily interactions. I witnessed new students find their voices to shed light on the ways in which too many voices have been silenced within historically white institutions. In the midst of a global pandemic, our students found a way to fill the David Niven Theatre with music, passion, and laughter. More of us sought out the "open-air" lifestyle at the barn where "the new normal" genuinely felt like "our normal." It was clear that the Oldfields magic could be found throughout even the most unfamiliar moments. As an administrator, these last few months have presented moments of challenge, the need for endless problem-solving and genuine pause. However, for our students, these moments make up some of the most valuable years of their lives. The past year has taught me how our decisions, our intentions, and our impact mean little to nothing without the ability to listen, apologize, and collaborate alongside the vibrant young minds which fill our hallways and classrooms every day. I am forever thankful for the dedication and resilience of the Oldfields community. From our veteran faculty rising to the challenge of a hybrid learning landscape, to our students' ability to adapt to frustrating and unfamiliar expectations, Oldfields did its best to protect the feeling of home and remain a source of comfort even while humbly navigating its own institutional growth. As we embark on a new school year, new sets of challenges await each of us. Our commitment to the health, safety, and progress of Oldfields School will remain continuous in order to live our mission every day, keeping our love for our students at the center of everything we do.