"This is Why" - Back to School
By Brent Bell - Faculty
One of the great parts of the school year is the sense of energy that returns slowly and steadily and then with a rush as summer ends and school begins. We have all enjoyed time with family and friends; perhaps we have read good books or enjoyed a trip. We certainly look forward to hearing from your children about all of their summer adventures.
I spent the first part of summer reflecting on my first year at Darlington; 2014-2015 was a great school year. We graduated a wonderful class of 118 students who led the school in academics, arts and athletics. Members of the Class of 2015 will attend 71 different colleges in 23 states; 66 students were offered over $8.6 million in merit scholarships and at least 15 will play college athletics. We surpassed our Annual Fund goal and reached our highest level of parent participation (57%) since 2003. Thank you! We identified opportunities in facilities, program and student experience. Our students left for the summer pleased with what they had accomplished.
This summer, my family and I enjoyed time at the beach and here in Rome. Mrs. Inman and I were fortunate to visit China, where we visited with many Darlington families. Being in Asia was a great reminder that we are truly a global community. Like most, I also followed the political and social events of the summer. Once again, I was reminded that our children are growing up in complicated times and that the mission of Darlington School is more important than ever.
The summer also provided some time for reading. I read a few of the books chosen by my sons for their summer reading. This is an exercise I highly recommend for parents. There is much to be learned from talking about books. I also read "The Road to Character" by David Brooks. In the book, Brooks uses profiles of various people to examine a rebalancing of the scales between our “resume virtues” and our “eulogy virtues.” The profile that struck me most profoundly was that of General George Marshall. His life and work was a true embodiment of “Service Beyond Self.” I was also reminded of how little I knew about one of the most important men of the 20th Century. We don’t always celebrate the “eulogy virtues” as we should - in Brooks’ mind, kindness, bravery, honesty, faithfulness, and focus on relationships. Marshall lived by these virtues which helped him be a transformational leader in the modern world. Leadership comes in many different forms and from many different personalities. Fostering a person’s desire to “lead” is one of our most important goals.
Campus has been alive this summer, not only with camps supporting students from all over the world, but also with several exciting projects. It has been fun to watch the turf field and track project take shape. It is on schedule for completion by our first home football game on August 28. We hope to see you there! Cooper House, our first-year girls’ house located in Persons Hall, has received some major upgrades, and we look forward to welcoming students and sharing in their excitement. Improvements have been made in the Zelle Fine Arts Building, including significant work on the Cinema Room named in honor of George Awsumb. And, through the generosity of Tiger Pride and the Board of Trustees, we completed construction of a new playground at Thatcher Hall. These projects are symbolic of the school’s ambition to provide the best experiences possible for our students.
Last week, we welcomed a tremendous group of new teachers and staff members into the Darlington Community. Their energy and experience have already created a positive impact within the faculty and larger community. I am thankful that this group exemplifies the qualities we are looking for in a faculty member - passion for the profession and joy in working with children.
The 2015-2016 school year promises to be an even more exciting year at Darlington. The theme of this year’s sold-out Purple Tie Affair (I hope to see you on August 15!) is “A Night at the Races.” We are indeed “off to the races.” This year will be marked by the creation of a new strategic planning process. The inclusive process will help us set the direction of the school into the future. As part of the planning process, our faculty is embarking on the important work of curriculum mapping. We will also work this year with a consultant from Independent School Management to help Darlington develop the best daily schedule for our community. Time is our most precious resource, and these initiatives will allow us to enhance how we use our resources most effectively.
I am grateful to Dr. Bob Hortman (’72), vice chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Brian Inman, Upper School history teacher, for their willingness to lead the Strategic Plan Steering Committee. The importance of this work cannot be overemphasized as we chart our path into the future. As we embark on this endeavor, I am reminded by a quote in the 1937 Jabberwokk about the founding of the school: “And so it was that, in 1905, Mr. Cooper determined to build a school in which boys of the city might have the best educational opportunities and advantages at the least possible cost … ”
Darlington is a place where tradition meets ambition. We are optimistic about this year and about the future of the school. Our faculty is energized and determined to help students learn with passion, act with integrity and serve with respect. The world is changing rapidly and we are called to help prepare our students to thrive in that world. Our foundational building blocks of “wisdom - service - honor” are timeless and as important now as they have ever been. We will revel in the celebration of the 100th year of our Honor Code while realizing that for the entire history of the school, our students have graduated knowing that “Honor Above Everything” must be a guiding principle in one’s life.
School starts in just a few short days. We can’t wait!
