Message from the Head of School

Designing for the Future

Over the course of this fall and winter, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible accomplishments and milestones achieved by our students. Whether it be in the classroom, on the playing field, or in the arts, our students have demonstrated a level of dedication, resilience, and creativity that is exceptional. It is a testament to their hard work and the unwavering support of our faculty and staff.

The past many months have been filled with my first-time experiences of wonderful Santa Catalina traditions and celebrations: the freshman-organized Halloween dinner and senior-created “Haunted Hills” in the Upper School and Pumpkin Olympics with the Lower and Middle School; Kris Kringles, Candlelight Mass, winter pep rallies, and Christmas concerts. Like most of the country, we battled a fierce and unexpected winter, including the closing of the school due to electricity outages. Reunion Weekend was the peak of the on-campus challenges, forcing the cancellation of the first day of activities. Nonetheless, we enjoyed a successful Saturday of on-campus events with alumnae from across generations, capped off with a lively evening party at Pasadera. It has been a gift to meet many alumnae in person, whether at Reunion or at a number of events on and off campus. Filled with growth, learning, and moments of joy and inspiration, it has been a truly remarkable first-year journey for which I feel grateful and blessed.

These first several months as Catalina’s fifth Head of School have allowed me to begin to understand our strengths and consider areas for further reflection. Our vision for Santa Catalina is rooted in the historic institutional belief that education is not only about imparting knowledge but also about nurturing the whole person. Our mission-centered daily work is devoted to cultivating courageous, gracious, and compassionate leaders who possess the intellectual curiosity, critical thinking skills, and spiritual and ethical grounding to thrive in an ever-changing world.

As we design for the future, we think about who our students are today, tomorrow, and perhaps most importantly, who they will be as young adults. At Santa Catalina, we understand the importance of a well-rounded education that prepares students not only for college and career success, but also for a meaningful and purposeful life.

To best achieve our mission, we are working on enhancements to the daily student experience in both divisions. Areas of focus come from feedback from faculty, families, and students over the last several years. They are also informed by the ever-evolving need to respond to this generation’s needs. In the coming year, in the Lower and Middle School, we will analyze the role of homework, review the science curriculum, and change to a semester system in the Middle School to better balance competing demands on our students. In the Upper School, we will develop a new residential life curriculum, redesign the Journey advisory program (see page 28), and add a new applied sciences engineering focus to our signature programs. We look forward to sharing details about these in the next Bulletin.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the tireless dedication and expertise of our faculty and staff, who are deeply committed to nurturing the intellectual, social, and emotional growth of our students. I am eager to collaborate with them, and I am confident that their guidance and mentorship will continue to inspire our students to become their best selves.

I am filled with excitement and optimism, confident that the coming years will bring opportunities for growth, innovation, and the continued thriving of our mission and identity.

Be well,

Dr. Barbara Ostos
Head of School