School years fly by; at least that is what we tell ourselves in the month of May, when there are only six weeks left, and we find ourselves feeling a tad overwhelmed by everything that remains to be done. That feeling is partly due to the fact that school years are punctuated by traditions and milestones—as I mentioned here a very long time ago—that roll around in quick succession.
Yesterday’s Field Day is a perfect example. Even if the setting this year was different, we swapped Prospect Park for Randall’s Island (making us all think of the back-to-school picnic), colleagues and students quickly found their bearings, and laughter abounded—a wonderful reminder of how much kids would benefit from more time outdoors. After archery, different ball games, running, jumping, and carrying out impossible missions, the morning came to a close with our traditional House vs. House tug of wars. There was a little controversy this year, with an announcement reminiscent of the 2017 Oscars when La La Land was declared the winner, when actually it was Moonlight. It was, in fact, the Yellow House that won the tug-of-war final, although the Red House was initially, mistakenly, called in the midst of the excitement and cheers, to the confusion of the referees.
We will continue marking these milestones; they are such an important part of The École and mean more to our students each year. Creating new traditions, as I mentioned here, or adapting existing ones to better reflect the reality of a school whose student numbers have grown so much in recent years, is an important part of our work. Every event is followed by a rigorous post-mortem review (an often painful experience for the organizer since every glitch is always pointed out!). We are constantly navigating the tension between tradition and modernity. The end of the year and its many events, especially graduation ceremonies, are a perfect example of this duality. These are of course unforgettable moments for students and their families, and we are absolutely committed to preserving them—but we also want the format to remain flexible and adaptable each year so young people who are increasingly creative, inventive, and engaged can add their personal touch, as was the case last year in 8th Grade, when after the speeches, a few tears, and much joy, the graduates transformed the ceremony into a rock concert!
In short, as you can see, we are constantly striving to improve what we offer our students. This is something we share with TÉPA, our parent association. In fact, I had to interrupt writing this letter to enjoy a delicious sandwich for breakfast, and I fully intend to find a few minutes today for a massage as well—all thanks to TÉPA, who went above and beyond this year during Staff and Teacher Appreciation Week. We have been truly spoiled, and on behalf of the entire team, I would like to thank all the parents for the gifts, cards, flowers, and messages of gratitude, which are genuinely heartwarming.