In one of my favorite Dr. Suess books Oh, The Places You’ll Go Suess writes, “The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn the more places you'll go.” As you all know, my granddaughters are my pride and joy. Ever since they were born, I have spent many wonderful hours selecting books for them, reading aloud to then and listening as they learned to read. We share a special love of learning through books. Most often, I have recommended books for them to read, so I was especially pleased when, over Presidents’ Day weekend, Idabelle suggested a book for me to read, saying, “I know you will really like this one!” And, I did! I couldn’t put it down once I started it. Matched by Ally Condie, is the captivating story of one girl, Cassia, learns how important it is to have the option to make choices. In Matched, the “Society Officials” have predetermined what will happen to each person, leaving nothing to chance. When a mistake occurs with the man Cassia is supposed to marry, she begins to question and later resist the choiceless life that awaits her, even though it has many benefits. Matched reminds readers of the importance of the freedom to choose your own path.
Life is the sum of all the choices we have made, and I often reflect on our students and the choices they make on a daily basis – some good, some questionable and yes, some, even bad. Each and every decision made is a life lesson, and it is our job as parents and educators to help students be accountable and accept the consequences of their actions, to encourage them to be responsible, contributing members of our community and to love them through all the ups and downs of growing up and making choices.
I have recently made a decision with input from students, faculty and administrators that will guide RPCS for many years to come with the appointment of Ereni Malfa as Upper School Head effective July 1. As I wrote to you earlier this month Ereni came to RPCS in 1994 teaching science and developing curriculum in the Upper School. She has been Chair of the Science Department, a New Teacher Mentor and a member of the Upper School Admissions Committee. Currently, she serves as a Grade Level Dean and an Advisor. Ereni is trained in Schools Attuned and has attended the prestigious Klingenstein Summer Institute at Columbia University and the Administrative Leadership Seminar for Women, sponsored by the National Association of Principals of Schools for Girls. She is the recipient of numerous awards, grants and internships for her leadership, her pedagogical work and her creativity and communication skills in her teaching. I am really looking forward to working with Ereni and Joan Smith this spring in preparation for next year.
Over the next month many of our newly accepted students and families will visit RPCS as they choose their school for the next academic year. We hope that all of the well qualified and diversely talented students to whom we have offered acceptances will select RPCS for their educational, athletic, artistic and social experiences over the years. I know you will join me in welcoming them to the community if you should be on campus when they are visiting. We are very excited by the potential and promise of this group of girls and young women.
This spring RPCS will undertake a strategic marketing project. You will have the opportunity to be involved in the process through a web-based survey. I will be sending more information about this project in late March or early April, but I wanted you to be thinking now about why you chose RPCS for your family. And, I am certainly glad that you did! Have a wonderful spring break.
~J.W.B.