Earlier this week, the Class of 2023 gathered in Knowles Hall for the *first* class meeting of their Senior year. They were greeted by their Grade 12 Dean, Gabe Bernstein, who gave them an overview of the year ahead and rallied them to enjoy—and bring their best selves to—this final year of high school.

Our last class meeting on campus was, of course, in June, with the graduation ceremony of the Class of 2022. That our next all-grade gathering was for our rising Seniors reminds us of how fast time goes and of the unique cyclical nature of high school leadership. We look toward the Class of 2023 to set the tone for the year ahead and act as the most knowledgeable and impactful keepers of our CA culture. Mr. Bernstein relayed this message beautifully, and in this class, we see a grade eager to create good memories for each other and build a legacy of warmth and positivity.

On Monday, we will welcome the Class of 2026 for the new student orientation. They will have their *first* class meeting bright and early, under the excellent care of Dr. Camille James, Grade 9 Dean, and the slate of advisors who will work with this grade for the next four years. Welcoming a new class is always exciting for us—even though we know it can be nail-biting for the new Ninth Graders! We know they are wondering how they’ll fit in and what the first chapters of their high school experience will look like. What they don’t know yet is that they won’t write these chapters alone—our teachers, advisors, and especially our Seniors, are eager to welcome them and shepherd them through this transitional period.

For those students in the heart of their high school experience—Grades 10 and 11—there is much joy and opportunity ahead, too. Our grade-level deans (Emily Perez for Grade 10 and Ali Kittle for Grade 11) have spent all summer refining the various programs and pathways these students might take, so they can blossom fully in the year ahead. These are the years when we see curiosity shift into engagement. With a solid understanding of who we are and how to make change, we look forward to seeing how the Classes of 2025 and 2024 will begin to shape the Upper School for the better. These are also the years when we see the teacher-student relationship deepen most profoundly. Tenth and Eleventh Grade students have fully internalized that, while academics drive CA, it’s the trust and affection between student and teacher that serves as our most powerful educational tool.

This week also wraps up our Faculty Professional Development Week. These are long, intense days of preparation, review, and reflection (but with a lot of food!). At the start of the week, I asked the faculty to reflect on our hopes for this year, and how we’ll know if we’ve been successful. Universally, we measure our success by the success of our students as scholars, human beings, and agents of change in an ever-changing world.

We are thrilled to welcome our Upper School students next week.