Head of School’s Message

Dear Langley friends...

Welcome to 2020! It’s a new decade as the students are excitedly telling me. And with a fresh, unwritten decade ahead of us, I’m pleased to share some of the exciting progress we have made as we shape Langley’s future.

Firstly, in late January, our Board of Trustees approved the decision to move forward with building the next phase of Langley’s campus master plan. Targeted to open in September 2021, the new Crossroads Building will house our Primary School, fifth grade, and library/media center, along with our Club E.D. program and a multi-purpose space for movement and music classes on the lower level. This is a very exciting moment for Langley and our community is proud to add our contribution to the campus, just as past leaders helped build the Solomon Athletic Center, Sherman Arts Center, and Cottam Middle School.

As you know, the addition of a new building comes with fundraising needs. The Next Generation Campaign is our comprehensive campaign focused on growing our endowment – which supports teachers, tuition assistance, and program innovation – and building the Crossroads Building. By now, many of you have read my announcement that I will be transitioning to a new position as head of school at the National Cathedral School in July 2021. As a gift to Langley’s next head of school, I plan to spend my final 18 months here at Langley working diligently to achieve our $20 million campaign goal. To learn more about the campaign and timeline, see page 14. The involvement of our community – both past and present – is critical to meeting our goal.

I’m proud to say that our academic and social-emotional learning programs are each progressing wonderfully. Our inquiry-based pedagogy allows us to develop graduates who are curious, confident, and can think and write critically. You can learn about how our teachers are using a common inquiry language to drive learning and the impact it is having in their classrooms on page 2.

Our custom-built social-emotional program, called REACH, continues to be a clear differentiator in the marketplace due to the relevant and age-appropriate curriculum that we are developing at each grade level. While building the academic skills they will need for the future, our students are also growing into kind, compassionate, self-aware individuals as they hold doors for each other, support one another, respectfully express their ideas, embrace differences, and discover how to use technology and social media responsibly. Read more about our REACH program on page 10.

I always say that Langley is a place that never stops growing and always strives for more. And while tremendous growth is happening on our campus – through our endowment, our academic program, our faculty professional development, and our students – meaningful relationships remain at our core. Langley is a place of joy and relationships that flourish within our walls. It’s the smiles, the friendships, the helping hand, the motivating speech, and the surprising gesture that keep our community vibrant. For your role in creating this special place, I thank you.

Warmly,

Dr. Elinor Scully Head of School