Message From Head of School - Jean Waller Brune
Even though the weather has still been unseasonably cold, spring is officially here! Our students and faculty are heading into the final months of this academic year. There are many ways that each student will have papers, tests and projects to conclude this year’s studies. Every student will be challenged to reach her highest level of achievement in the remaining months of the academic year. Since 1963, this spring term always begins with our Upper School Cum Laude assembly. RPCS was the first all-girls’ school in Maryland to be awarded a Cum Laude chapter. Induction into the Cum Laude Society celebrates the academic strength of Roland Park Country School and the special achievements of those of our Upper School juniors and seniors who have excelled at the highest level and have taken the most rigorous curricula that the School offers. Academics, together with a busy spring athletic season and an arts calendar full of wonderful showcase events, make springtime at RPCS a time full of our special “Reds” spirit.
Reds spirit was evident on Roland Avenue last Friday, as the entire School community of students and RPCS employees walked together around St. Mary’s Seminary to raise funds in support of Building Two Schools. The Building Two Schools effort represents the dual goals of raising funds to support the RPCS Capital Campaign, A Place in our Hearts, to build the Athletic Complex and raise endowment funds for faculty compensation and student financial assistance and the effort lead by Upper School Student Government Association President Chris Gummerson, 2008 to raise funds to build a school in Sierra Leone through the organization Free the Children. 1000 members strong, the RPCS community donated money to walk together “out-of-uniform” and enjoyed an apple generously donated by Giant at the Rotunda upon returning to campus.
Reds spirit is evident among our seniors who are now on campus “out-of-uniform” each day at School. It is a rite of passage for our seniors to replace the blue uniform skirt after spring break with their own attire! It is also the time that I begin my series of Senior Breakfasts where I meet with the seniors in small, advisory groups during the spring. During our conversation, I always ask them the same question: “What should never change at RPCS?” I always hear that we should keep the All School Opening Convocation and that we should always keep our warm and friendly community where lifelong relationships are formed between students and between teachers and students. This year I was especially pleased to hear that we should never change the way we encourage our students to seek leadership at RPCS. I am proud that our students value leadership especially as a recent nationwide study conducted by the Girls Scouts of America revealed that the majority of U.S. teen-agers, both girls and boys, don't intend to seek to become leaders as adults.
Thankfully, over the past 100 years, the School has been fortunate to find visionary leaders who serve or have served on the Board of Trustees. The list of members includes alumnae, parents, grandparents, friends of the School and members of the greater community. This spring marks the 100th anniversary of the RPCS Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees exists to support and promote the School’s mission and ensure that it is appropriate and relevant to the School community. The Board sets the policies that govern the School and appoints and vests authority in the Head to implement those policies. Through all these years, the RPCS Board of Trustees has made landmark decisions to ensure the school’s survival, success and relevance. RPCS deeply appreciates their leadership, vision and commitment to our institution.
~ J.W.B.