Like all of the divisions, the Upper School welcomed a host of prospective families during our Admission Preview event on Thursday. CA is unique in that we open our doors, not on a weekend, or weeknight, but during a class day. Our goal is for families who are interested in CA to see us in our natural element; we believe the best way to see the powerful connection between teachers, students, and the curriculum is to witness it firsthand.

There’s nothing like answering questions about your school to remind you what a special place it is. Watching our students give tours to students thinking about applying to CA was heartwarming; they showed off our building and classes with a sense of pride and took great care to answer questions in ways that felt authentic and honest. Of particular note was the student panel, where 14 Upper School students fielded questions from an audience eager to learn more about CA.

A few ideas emerged that really resonated.

First, CA is a place where it’s hard to pigeonhole yourself. Students spoke about themselves as club leaders, student-athletes, scholars, and artists—all in the same share. Our kids have internalized the idea that being more than one thing is not only celebrated here, it’s normalized. Humbling, too, was the sentiment that being a student can be a lot to juggle—our kids are so involved that there are moments where it can be challenging to fit it all in. The older students, especially the Seniors, have learned that asking for help from a teacher, dean, or coach, is a way to keep from feeling overwhelmed, not just something to do once you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Senior Zach Wolkon shared how the college counseling office had just added a series of helpful sessions that Seniors can attend during their free blocks, to work on college applications. These sessions provide snacks and the support of a college counselor. At CA, we try to offer similar systems of support for all our students, at all the various stages of their careers here. While no system is perfect, we hope our students know that our campus is full of adults who they can always come to, no matter the need.