HEAD’S MESSAGE

Expecting the Unexpected

It feels fair to say the world just finished a year without precedent. One that will be written about in history books, and studied by scholars across a range of disciplines, for decades to come. I won’t recount the long list of events that rocked our nation, challenged our values, tested our resolve, and disrupted our daily routines. Nor will I pretend we’re out of the woods. But if there was one thing that could be relied upon in 2020, it was to expect the unexpected.

In this issue of Pegasus Magazine, we share the many ways Pegasus prepared itself to overcome the variety of obstacles 2020 posed. From the priority we have given to our technological infrastructure, to the autonomy we instill in our faculty, to our cultivation of a strong and engaged community, each of our longstanding institutional investments paid dividends this past year.

Distance learning was one of the biggest hurdles for most schools. Julie Alweheiby explains how Pegasus turned this challenge into an advantage by fostering independence, catering to students’ strengths, and forging unique bonds between teachers and students. Corinne Yeager and Kyra Sandstrom highlight the surprising benefits blended learning provides. Google classroom and other digital tools increase students’ access to information, allowing them to explore individual interests in depth, and adding new instructional opportunities to our curriculum.

Last year taught more than academics. It reminded us to remain committed to instilling students with empathy and the skills necessary to be socially engaged. J.J. McGawn takes us inside Pegasus’s new diversity committee, which emphasizes both our dedication to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, and our commitment to responsible citizenship.

For whatever we’ve lost this past year, unexpected gifts were found. Our Science & Technology building, for example, now features a last-minute quirk that feels wholly “Pegasus.” James Swiger and Jennifer Green share other delights this year of hardship bestowed. From virtual escape rooms to Operation Warm Wishes, from bedtime tuckins to streaming talent shows, new customs were borne out of old traditions.

In many ways, this past year felt like the test Pegasus had been readying itself to tackle for decades. Like any exam, we didn’t know what would be asked of us. Fortunately, as we instill in our students, we had prepared both broad and deep. We trained ourselves to be resilient, creative, and adaptable. We emphasized tolerance, compassion, and empathy. So when the difficult days of lockdowns, social unrest, political and economic upheavals arrived, we were well-positioned to address each challenge that arose.

None of this would have been possible without the strength and commitment of our community. Within these pages, I hope you’ll see yourselves and all you’ve done to contribute to our success. We are never alone when we pull together, and I’m proud of all we’ve accomplished during these unprecedented and challenging times. I hope this edition stirs a sense of pride in you, too. Look at all we’ve overcome.

Jason Lopez Head of School