A LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dear Caedmon Community,

This year’s issue of The Steps of Caedmon captures a much more familiar school —although, following a pandemic, can anything ever be “familiar” again?

Even with the familiar, though, there must be change, and the magazine describes how a new food service is keeping our tummies satisfied and our bodies healthy. The Steps of Caedmon also takes a look at our extensive digital marketing efforts—social media is one of the key sources for “getting the word out” about our marvelous school. The Fifth grade Class of 2023 have also put together their own class magazine full of fun facts and brain challenges, and it’s excerpted in these pages, as is a newspaper written by our Fourth graders.

In addition, an alum profile updates us about 2016 alums Alex and Terrence Fuller, and there is an article about the Fifth grade admissions process, when our graduates move on to their next academic adventure. Our mission statement is unequivocal—our students are creative, capable, and courageous Highly sought-after, they matriculate to the finest independent and public middle schools in New York City. It’s an active process, to be sure. But ask a Fifth grade parent about it and they will tell you it is profoundly gratifying to see their child display such maturity and self-direction. The joy of finding the exact right-fit middle and upper school for their child is often spoken of as a true gift of attending The Caedmon School. A Sixth grade admissions director told us that her team “always asks to read the Caedmon folders first, because they are always so interesting and fun.”

The Steps of Caedmon also provides the opportunity to recognize the generous giving that happens at this school. Like other independent schools and not-for-profit organizations, Caedmon could not exist without generous financial gifts. We count on our Caedmon parents, teachers, grandparents, alums, and staff to give generously, and as you can see in the magazine, that’s just what they do: we are overwhelmed with gratitude. The Caedmon Trustees start in September with a commitment from all of them to donate—and we depend upon the entire community to follow their lead.

As always, a well-deserved shout-out goes to the many people who volunteer at Caedmon. A special thank you also to the CFA Co-Presidents, Michelle Gramer and Nancy Virdi, and to the CFA Class Reps and their organizer Rob Polsky, who keep all of us “in the know.” As always, the editor of this magazine, Dan McNerney, has taken the time to capture our school.

Please enjoy The Steps of Caedmon and display it proudly for friends and relatives to notice. Every child here has a very unique, distinguished story, and we relish experiencing those stories as they unfold each year.

With gratitude and admiration,

Matthew Stuart