THE BUCCANEER
LETTER FROM THE
HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear Benjamin Community, We made it! We successfully navigated a year truly like none other. While the course was often fraught with obstacles, our community came together bound by a shared mission and commitment: to provide an exceptional educational experience in a safe and supportive environment despite our pandemic footing. The Buccaneer spirit prevailed. Our community, from students to alumni, faculty and parents, put our Benjamin Values to work and practice in their daily lives throughout the trials of this year. They accomplished great things and found joy in spite of trying circumstances. They have, like I wished the Class of 2021, lived lives of silver linings. Many of our students also took part in and benefited from the School’s signature programs, many of which you will read more about in the following pages. In the face of adversity, students adapted and continued to find creative avenues of expression. The artist still drew. The poet still wrote. The violinist still played. The desire to create was not extinguished by the pandemic, it was fueled. It’s an unquenchable thirst that is encouraged and fostered throughout the Benjamin experience. Retiring and beloved English teacher Perry Feyk shared with The Buccaneer readers the books that have most inspired him. Ray Bradbury stands among his favorite authors and also lends me a wish for all of you. And that is this: “I wish you a wrestling match with your Creative Muse that will last a lifetime.” Bradbury’s wish is for this Creative Muse to spark an enduring, lifelong love of the craft and “out of that love, remake the world.” This “wrestling match” looks different for everyone — from the athlete, to the artist, to the humanitarian. But my hope for all of our students, from the youngest learner in WOW to our senior class and alumni network, is that they will continue to go out, inspired by a Creative Muse, and remake the world through lives of passion and purpose, guided by our 12 Benjamin Values.
In community,
David C. Faus
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