Charting Our Course

Throughout this year, I’ve frequently been asked how my first year at Seven Hills has gone. I am quick to respond about the kindness of the community, the dedication and hard work of our students, and the amazing commitment of the teachers and staff members who work tirelessly to support our students. I’ve met with many parents to receive feedback on what’s going well, what could be improved, and other suggestions. We are so fortunate to be part of a caring and committed community that works together to make things better for the next generation. My family and I are truly grateful for the energy, patience, and support we’ve experienced during our transition.

This year, the school as a whole undertook several steps to chart our future course. A new strategic plan has been developed along with the Portrait of a Learner document and the Bee Present Initiative to increase both student and parent involvement in the school. I’m especially thankful our amazing parent committee, led by Marnie Renda and her cohort of devoted volunteers, for their hard work, fearless leadership, and unwavering focus on the student experience. We are stronger when we work together, and I’ve appreciated every opportunity to come together as an extended adult community — whether at sporting events, banquets, concerts, theater productions, Arts Alive, Books for Lunch, parent nights, or morning or evening gatherings. We look forward to more opportunities next year, and I encourage you to participate as much as your schedules permit.

One of the exciting elements about education is that our world is constantly changing. Technology, including artificial intelligence and personal technology, is transforming rapidly. Political, economic, and social changes are all around us. Many of our students will pursue careers that don’t currently exist after passing through a university experience quite different from those we knew. As educators and caretakers, our shared responsibility is to guide the next generations and remain flexible enough to help them navigate an ever-changing world.

While both education and parenting can be rooted in solid principles and values, it’s important for us to also embrace growth and adaptation. We want our students — and ourselves — to take meaningful risks and learn from mistakes. Tardies happen. Sometimes we’re not ready for the quiz. Our schedules may not be perfect. Our judgment may fail us. But as we keep our eyes on the destination, we learn and grow from these mistakes and turn them into wisdom.

At graduation, I shared a metaphor from Stephen Covey’s book, “How to Develop your Personal Mission Statement,” to illustrate an important principle:

“Think about taking a trip on an airplane. Before taking off, the pilot has a very clear destination in mind, which hopefully coincides with yours, and a flight plan to get there. The plane takes off at the appointed hour toward that predetermined destination. But in fact, the plane is off course at least 90 percent of the time. Weather conditions, turbulence, and other factors cause it to get off track. However, feedback is given to the pilot constantly, who then makes course corrections and keeps coming back to the exact flight plan, bringing the plane back on course. And often, the plane arrives at the destination on time. It’s amazing. Think of it. Leaving on time, arriving on time, but off course 90 percent of the time.”

Being a student is hard. Parenting is hard. Education is hard. We will all find ourselves off course at times — but we adjust, correct, and keep moving forward. Recently, we watched 105 of our best and brightest cross the stage at graduation, having arrived at one destination, and ready to embark on their next exciting journey.

We can’t wait to see where life takes them – and all of us – next.