BATTERED BUT NEVER BROKEN OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL REFLECTS ON THE CLASS OF 2021. By Greg Ventre
“
HEAD OF SCHOOL
GREG VENTRE
The whole school celebrated their final days on campus with a joyous parade, reminding them that we are still a community and that they were appreciated as the oldest, most experienced, and admired Dragons of all.
”
I am especially pleased to be writing my final piece for
feel like a class again. That they achieved and taught us all
our magazine as a tribute to the Class of 2021. These 74
useful lessons along the way.
Dragons, with 23 lifers amongst them, have had a most unique senior year—one that began in a virtual learning
Most importantly, they showed us how to be positive,
mode, slowly progressed to a hybrid model and, finally,
creative, and dogged in reaching their goals despite the
emerging into a full blown on-campus final few months.
many obstacles placed before them. Having been shut out
They separated in March of 2020 and were not whole again
of most of their artistic and athletic pursuits, when things
until almost a year later. Still, they remained a family.
opened back up in spring, they jumped into these endeavors with characteristic energy. The whole school
In my remarks at Commencement, I attempted to draw
celebrated their final days on campus with a joyous parade,
some parallels between the Class of 2021 and the Brood X
reminding them that we are still a community and that they
cicadas who serenaded us during the ceremony. Essentially
were appreciated as the oldest, most experienced, and
born in the same year, they spent the last 17 years or so
admired Dragons of all.
emerging into young adulthood, finally to spring forward and fly off to…. well, for our insect friends, to oblivion.
The last year has not been easy, but the Class of 2021 will always be remembered as the class who pushed through
Happily, the prospects for the Class of 2021 are much
and emerged as a unique and successful class. Dragons to
brighter. While our rather aimless cicada friends seemed to
the end: battered, but never bowed.
be flying around without a plan, we know they were driven by their genetic code to sing out, make connections, and
Good luck to them and to everyone at GCS. Thank you for
achieve their fated purpose.
your support.
Our seniors sang out as well. They were clear about how
Greg Ventre
they wanted their year to end and were determined to
Head of School
ensure that they made the connections they had to make to
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SPIRIT OF THE DRAGON
