Upper School

The first day of the 2020-2021 school year is one I think I will remember more than any other first day of school. The back-to-school excitement is always palpable, but last year there was an added joy and appreciation from all of us; we were so thankful to be on campus and to actually see each other in person! There was even more sparkle in the eyes of students as they walked through the halls for the first time since March of 2020. My instinct was to hug every student, but as we approached each other we caught ourselves and smiled with our eyes. The year was such an exclamation mark for me; it emphasized and reminded me how much I love these children and how fortunate I am to be with them on a daily basis. Throughout the pandemic, the students and I learned to connect in different ways – video chats, FaceTime, emails and messages became our norm. Through these conversations, I truly learned how powerful connections are. Students missed their friends, their teachers, and the actual campus. I truly saw through their eyes just how important those in-person connections are. We often take them for granted, but when you are forced to develop new ways to convey your thoughts, sometimes deeper observations surface. The most challenging part of the year to me was watching the students adjust to the necessary but quite different changes; masks, smaller classes, no more hanging out in the halls before school in the mornings, separation at lunch/break and restructured (but still present) traditions such as assemblies and awards were just a few of the many challenges they faced. However, after a few weeks of the new routine, I started to hear the laughter in the halls on the way to class, and I knew all would be okay. The word “resilience” comes to mind as we reflect on how we tackled last year. The students amazed me with their “We’ve GOT this!” attitude. Before ninth grade students walk through the doors on day one each year, I try to learn their names before they step foot into high school. Masks have been a challenge in that area because the students don’t necessarily look like the pictures I studied! I started to memorize the color of their eyes, the part in their hair and the hair color at temperature checks in the mornings since I could no longer read their smiles. I have learned how much the eyes say this year. That has been a very powerful and positive surprise; I have been able to read quite a bit through those eyes. Each year we evaluate the school year as we look toward the next year. I can honestly say that the positives have definitely outweighed the tribulations. Many traditions that were tweaked resulted in a better tradition!

Moving forward, I have loved the deeper relationships I have built with students. They struggled during COVID-19, and there was an overall anxiety and sadness that you could almost see. In conversations, we had to dig a little deeper to figure out coping skills that worked best because what worked for one student did not always work for another. Through this, I feel that I know them on such a different level- and I THOUGHT I knew them well already! Some students and I still email on a regular basis as we did last year; some still want to “meet” on Zoom when they want to discuss something. There are so many more examples of what I have learned through the eyes of our students. Last year taught me that UMS-Wright will face whatever challenge is ahead with strength and spirit. I have realized that this family school is exactly that –FAMILY– and we will do whatever we need to protect our family and help the members thrive.

What was the most challenging part of the 2020-2021 school year?

I believe the most challenging part of last year was the struggle of getting to see our students' smiles and forming the close relationships. This is a very important part of who we are and gathering the entire student body or even as grade levels was tough.

What surprised you about last school year?

The perseverance of our students and our teachers was overwhelming. I believe the Mind, Body, & Spirit components of our mission were able to shine through, even with all the restrictions, and we became stronger as a school, a community, and as a family.

After each school year, we analyze how we can make the next one better. With the trials and tribulations surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, what has changed for the better?

I believe we have learned to think outside the box and our students have learned how to communicate better. These are tools that will stay with them through college and into their adult lives.

Wes Lathan | Associate Head of School & Upper School Principal