From Mr. Heller Dear Academy at the Lakes Community: For the past 24 years, the Academy at the Lakes community has been truly graced by the presence of Mr. John Pitcairn. First as a parent of Kelsey ’07, Daniel ‘09, and Jason ’11, then as a teacher and coach, and, since 2006, as our Middle Division Director. He was also influential in bringing us our outstanding Director of College Counseling, his wife Debbie! Through every moment of Mr. Pitcairn’s 24-year association with Academy at the Lakes, he has served our students and our school as an outstanding role model, mentor, problem solver, and advocate. At the conclusion of the 2022-23 school year, Mr. Pitcairn will complete his tenure on our faculty and begin the next chapters of his rich, interesting, and exploration-filled life. I’m hesitating to use the word “retirement,” as his plans imply no let-up in his pursuit of rewarding experiences and activities, usefulness to others, and, ultimately, meaning. I am certain that this next phase of Mr. Pitcairn’s life will continue to feature his customary enthusiasm, his ready and raucous laugh, his adventurous spirit, and infectious warmth. As such, he will continue to impact our world in positive ways. I have begun a national search for our school’s next Middle Division Director. Mrs. Colleen McCormick, our long-time Middle Division Science Teacher and Science Department Chair, has agreed to chair the search committee. The process will include finalist visits that will begin before our Winter Break in December. We hope to have a new Middle Division Director named and secured before March 2023. Mr. Pitcairn’s impact on our school has been deep and lasting. He was the force behind the creation of our House System, he has relentlessly fostered our tradition of morning hand-shakes, and he has made countless choices and decisions to help our Middle Division students and our Middle Division grow and thrive. His care for his students, his faculty, and for our school have been exemplary. In ways both great and small, Academy at the Lakes bears the mark of this special man of principle whose number one principle is care. Please do not hesitate to reach out to express your gratitude that he and his work have been part of your life. I know well that he has greatly enriched mine. Sincerely, Mark Heller Head of School
From Mr. Pitcairn My Dear Academy Community: I began my Academy at the Lakes journey as a parent in the Fall of 1998, with Mrs. P. and our three children, Kelsey, Daniel, and Jason. Three years later, I joined the faculty of this warm, welcoming, and wonderful school community as Middle Division social studies teacher and soccer coach. It took me a while to find my heart’s vocation, passing first through lawyer, nonprofit administrator, and dive travel business owner before getting there . . . but here, I finally did get. Since then, over the past almost 21 years, I have devoted every fiber of my being to serving my beloved students, families, and colleagues. But it is now time for my Academy journey to come to an end. I’m most proud to have been the Academy’s first Middle Division Director, and most grateful to Mr. Wendlek and Mr. Heller for having given me the opportunity to serve our community in that role. It has been the joy and purpose of my life. I am, however, now ready to pass the baton on to the fortunate soul who’ll run the next leg of the race and to move on to the “second act” of my life. It will involve volunteering on behalf of causes dear to me, reading a great deal more, learning at least one new language, and traveling to places I’ve never been. Most important, this next chapter will include much “quality time” spent with family, especially my parents, my children, and my lovely new granddaughter Rita. (And with Mrs. P., of course!) I am deeply grateful to the students, families, and colleagues who’ve shared this most meaningful journey with me, and I’m particularly grateful to Mrs. P. for having been my strongest support and soulmate as I made my way. I love you all. Allow me to close by sharing the lyrics (edited for brevity) of Neil Diamond’s song “Hell Yeah,” with apologies for the slightly rude title and refrain. My parents were big Neil Diamond fans in the 1970s; I listened to a lot of his music growing up . . . on 8-track cassettes, for those of you who remember what they are. The song reflects well my strong and mixed feelings about moving on from a community and culture that have given me so much.
If you’re thinking that my life Is a hoot and a holler From the start of the day To the dark of the night And that its ringin’ like a bell That you only want to follow Gotta trust me when I say I’m just trying to get it right Still I think about myself As a lucky old dreamer If you’re askin’ me to tell Is it worth what I paid You gonna hear me say Hell yeah it is And I say it loud I loved it all And I’m not too proud I freed my soul...just let it fly Hell yeah this crazy life around me
It confuses and confounds me But it’s all the life I’ve got until I die Hell yeah it is .... You’re gonna be okay And you might get lost But then you’ll find a way Don’t go alone Can’t be afraid Hell yeah
I’ve been living in a bowl With a lot of people staring With my feet on shaky ground And my head up in the sky But it’s where I want to be It’s a life that’s made for caring Got a song to pass the day And a girl to share the night So if they ask you when I’m gone Was it everything he wanted? When he had to travel on
This life is here and it’s made for livin’ And love’s a gift that’s made for givin’ You give it all away and have it still And Hell yeah you will
Did he know he’d be missed? You can tell them this
....
Onward and upward!
Hell yeah he did!
Mr. P.