Starting the Year Off Right

Last Monday, I had the wonderful opportunity to stand and welcome our school community to the 2011-12 school year.  Our annual Opening Convocation in the Van Es Arena serves as a beautiful reminder of what makes Darlington School so very special. 

Faculty and staff dedicated and determined to do their very best to help our students “learn with passion” were in attendance, and ready to go.  From these adults who work so diligently to challenge and stretch our students in the classroom and the studios and fields, to the folks who take pride in creating a beautiful and safe campus, to the individuals who provide a nutritional diet that allows our students to optimize their learning experience — all were part of the team gathered to celebrate another year.

Parents and friends were present to experience the charm and tradition of our opening ceremony.  Watching seniors escort, hand in hand, each of our Lower School students created a beautiful image of acting with integrity at all times, for you never know when “little eyes are watching,” and the influence each of us has on others.  This year’s senior class is outstanding.  The superb leadership they bring to the table in all areas of the school promise to make this year a great and memorable one.

From the offering of the prayer and the introduction of 38 countries represented in our student body and faculty, to the ringing of the Shem Thomas bell to begin the school year, each aspect of the program was inspirational and meaningful.  I am very pleased that so many parents were in attendance — thank you for taking the time to be with us.

The enthusiasm and community feel evidenced in our opening day will, I hope, be repeated on a daily basis throughout the year.  We have a hugely important opportunity this year in that our SACS/SAIS accreditation process is underway.  In February, a team of educators will visit Darlington for three days in a well organized, thorough, comprehensive and very demanding process that will make certain Darlington has strong, viable and effective programs.  The visiting team’s focus is on accountability to the SACS educational standards as well as determining whether we live, on a daily basis, the spirit of our mission statement — “To empower students to learn with passion, act with integrity and serve with respect.”

I will share more details about the upcoming accreditation process as we get closer to the visit, but until then, know that we are all very excited by the “best start” of a school year in recent history.  I look forward to working to make Darlington all it can be for our school community.