From the Head of School Dear Mayfield Community, I recently looked back at the letter that I wrote for last summer’s Maypoll. Although there was a lot of hope in that letter, there was some sadness due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the need to end the school year physically apart from each other. Now with the 2020-2021 school year behind us, I am so proud of how this community thrived and came together during the most challenging of times. Together, we focused on continuing to provide the best education possible. Together, we re-made and re-organized our campus to bring back students and teachers safely for in-person learning. Together, we found ways to celebrate (on-campus and virtually) all that make up the affirming cycle of a school year – longstanding traditions like the Kindergarten Nativity Play and Blue and White Day, and events such as First Eucharist, the Eighth-Grade Play, our new Grad Night and of course Graduation. Together, we mourned the passing of beloved community members, Bonnie Onken, Father Alan Phillip, C.P., and Jameson Hill. And together, we ended the year grateful for every open window when a door seemed to close and the resilience and enthusiasm to move forward joyfully. Mayfield Junior School is about people, and our faculty, staff, administration, Board of Trustees, parents, alumni, alumni parents, grandparents, and of course our students, rose to the occasion at every turn. Our Ever Forward theme inspired us for the 2020-2021 school year and sets a hopeful tone for the year ahead. We have learned so much and become even stronger through the challenges we have faced, learned from, and overcome. There is much work to do as we plan for the future. We will continue to focus on our Mission and philosophy of the Holy Child schools, “which is based on trust and reverence for the dignity of every person,” as we, in Cornelia Connelly’s words, “meet the wants of the age.” Our trustees, administrators, faculty, and staff will continue to commit themselves to educate by the Goals for Schools of the Holy Child and to lead our students to embrace these values for themselves. I am forever grateful to all of our community for their support. I especially want to thank our Ever Forward Scenario Planning Team, which included Board Chair, Jason Bridge, P ’23, ’23, Immediate Past Board Chair, Alison Jones Gamble, ’83, P ’18, ’20, Administrators Beth Dorr, Bridget Kelley-Lossada, Kathy Sweeney, and Larry Guyer for working so closely (and so often!) with me as we navigated through the uncharted waters of the pandemic. We kept the health and safety of our community at the forefront of all that we did, and I am honored to have worked with this group. Such bright days are ahead for this joyful community, and your love and support continuously bless us. Thank you! Ever Forward, Joe Sciuto
2 | Mayfield Junior School
