Breadcrumbs

Better together

Better together

ASL gathered in the Farmer Family Gymnasium on Friday, 2 September, to celebrate the start of the new academic year with our traditional opening assembly. Together, we welcomed those new to ASL and felt the joy of the entire school assembling in one place. Our core values of respect, responsibility, kindness, integrity and the courage to act were enthusiastically embraced, and the assembly topped off with a perfect song by the faculty/staff choir.

Welcome!

Interim Head of School Coreen R. Hester welcomed the company, and in particular, our newest students. The assembly kicked off in celebratory fashion with our Grade 12 students, the Class of 2023, serving as role models to all by leading our newest recruits in K1 and K2, by the hand to sit together at the front of the crowd.
 

“Good morning, ASL!” was Ms. Hester’s rousing opener! 

She invited the Class of 2023 to salute the crowd, followed by the kindergarten students, who stood and gave joyful waves to the gathering. After announcing that there were three birthdays to celebrate, the assembly joined together in a chorus of Happy Birthday.

In a tradition of beyond a decade, Ms. Hester went on to share some stellar facts about our community of upwards of 1,400 students, and more than 300 faculty and staff. “This is a special morning,” opined Ms. Hester.

 

By the numbers

This week, we welcomed 239 news students to ASL. Ms. Hester asked those new to the School to raise their hands. To make them feel comfortable as they settle into their new surroundings, she invited those new to ASL last year to make themselves known. There are, Ms. Hester shared, 17 sets of twins in our midst, and 13 June is the most populous birthday, with 13 students sharing the date! This year, our student body represents 71 countries—a record for our school—and speaks 62 languages. Some students have four passports! “We are truly international,” said Ms. Hester.

From recollections of her long history at ASL, Ms. Hester announced that the first year we began the tradition of Grade 12 students leading in the kindergartners was 2010, when members of the Class of 2023 were entering the School as kindergarten students! Another reason to celebrate.

Good things come in threes

Ms. Hester had three important messages to impart:

  1. Citing the writing of New York Times columnist David Brooks, who pointed out the research that proves we are happier when we meet someone new, Ms. Hester encouraged us to “Try to meet two new people a week!”
  2. Ms. Hester shared messages from the welcome speech delivered to the freshman class at Yale in August by president Peter Salovey, in which he challenged the students to embrace new ideas even if they disagree with them. By leaning in to listen to the views of others, we develop better brains, and think more deeply. “Speak with compassion,” Ms. Hester urged, “And try on a new idea, perhaps even one you might have disagreed with at an earlier time!”
  3. Our interim head of school’s final message is always the most important. Channeling the words of poet Henry James, who was a proponent of following three important rules for life, (the students were poised and ready!), Ms. Hester began, “The first is to be kind, the second is to be kind, and…” “THE THIRD IS TO BE KIND!” joined in the entire community! “And I’m going to add one more facet to this advice,” shared Ms. Hester. “True kindness has muscle; and there needs to be action behind having the strength to be kind.”

Stop! Look! And listen!

An entertaining interlude saw a group of teachers acting out small vignettes that exemplified how to live our core values—first by showing how not to behave! Enacting scenes supposedly in classrooms, hallways and playgrounds, our talented teachers played roles to show what it truly means to be kind and show respect and responsibility. The message was clear: To help others be their best selves, we must take action and have the courage to act. Kindness has muscle!
 

Throw kindness around like confetti!

Grade 4 students stepped up to encourage us to be kind and help new students feel a part of our community. They had a toolkit of tips: greet them with a smile or a wave; be inclusive and invite them to play; introduce yourself and ask their names; offer to help them find their way around the School; and most importantly, “Throw kindness around like confetti!”

Build a positive community

Our middle students are passionate about honing life skills as well as academics. It’s important, they shared, to support the emotional needs of others and this sometimes requires a plan. We need the right building blocks for a positive future. Small acts of kindness mean a lot to others, and will make us feel happy and uplifted.

Ambassadors, not just for the High School

Our oldest students shared that everyone new should take comfort in the knowledge that we have all had the shared experience of being new to ASL at some point. It can be daunting to figure out what questions to ask and how to make ASL your new home. Their advice: Say yes to everything!

This was the day on which the Class of 2023, in time-honored tradition, had risen in the early hours to gather together to greet the sunrise from the top of Primrose Hill. As for dozens of classes before them, this was an incredible bonding experience, the spirit of which they bring back to the School. “What made the event special was the people,” they shared—teaching us that showing respect for others and cherishing the little moments will make every day feel like ‘senior sunrise.’

Teach your children well

The faculty/staff choir had been rehearsing hard to perform a song to round off the celebration. More than 50 adults stood to deliver a heartfelt version of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s Teach Your Children.

Stepping down from her position with the choir, Ms. Hester quoted from the lyrics of the song: “Know that we love you,” she said from the heart.

What a great start to the year, and proof positive that we’re better together.