It is never easy to capture the “spirit” of a class, and this one is more difficult than most. There are simply too many story lines and intriguing characters in this class to adequately capture in a few short remarks. You are collectively a “Twitter” nightmare.

 

One hundred forty pages, let alone 140 characters, could not do you justice. Author JK Rowling took seven books and eight movies to do justice to Harry Potter and his friends at Hogwarts. I think that is the sort of effort we would be talking about here.

 

Still, I will explore a few of the story lines you have created and lived this year: You have been explorers: explorers of intellectual pursuits, explorers of the outdoors through Interim and Outward Bound experiences, explorers of community service, of relationships with each other, and you have been explorers in leadership. We have asked you to try new things and to explore who you can be this year without setting limits on yourselves and your friendships, and you have done exactly as we hoped: you have challenged yourselves on a daily basis to adapt, grow, and change.

 

You are no longer who you were as sixth graders, or even who you were when you crossed this threshold last August. You have been community builders. Quite honestly, it has been a while since the Middle School has seen the quality of leadership that this class has provided. Leadership through the Student Council charity and dance efforts; leadership through the Philanthropy Council and leadership from the eighth grade Leadership Team and Captains Groups. We talk a lot about the importance of community, of inclusion of others, of building relationships that are across and between grades, and you have made it happen this year.

 

There is the story line of justice. This is a group that cares deeply about each other and about the broader community. This is a class that strives to do what is right. Caring about others is not only what you say, but also what you do. You strive to be fair to each other and give back. This is a class that I know will have a positive impact on the Upper School next year and, perhaps more importantly, consistently in small and large ways on our broader community.

 

You also have lived the adage that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This is such an important thing to learn, and you have done so early. As individuals, you unquestionably have many talents, but it is only as you combine your talents in the classroom, in the art room or on the athletic field that you come to understand just how much you will be able to get done together.

 

I would like to extend my compliments to each of you for the contributions you have made to making this year as filled with learning and fun as it was. Although I began by suggesting that your class cannot be captured by a singular “tweet,” I do think I need to give it my best shot, so here goes:

 

Congrats to you. Fantastic class & year. Don’t let anyone or anything stop you from being your best selves. #Urfavprincipal

 

And if anyone was counting, that comes to 123 characters!