From the Head of School

As I think about the future of education at Rowland Hall, I am encouraged and inspired by what I see as limitless potential for our students.

Dear Rowland Hall Families and Friends,

The 2021–2022 school year was remarkable in many ways. I began the year with an appreciation for what we had previously accomplished in regard to distance learning and staying open during the COVID-19 pandemic, and with great optimism for the beginning of a return to normal. And while this year wasn’t exactly normal, it was filled with extraordinary teaching and learning despite lingering challenges. Our community rallied together, continuing to commit to health and safety while elevating the student experience, and our students left their marks on the world through many academic, athletic, and artistic endeavors and achievements. Among these, our research science students presented at an international conference; our debate program—which equips students to think critically and evaluate complicated positions—took its second consecutive state title; middle schoolers enthusiastically created welcoming spaces to support one another; and a class of third graders worked to limit waste by bringing reusable silverware back to the dining hall.

At the 2021 Convocation, we kicked off the year with the theme Relationships Matter, a deeply held school value integral to everything we do, as relationships—between students and teachers, among faculty, and between teachers and parents—instill confidence, build trust, and propel growth. I saw this theme throughout the year, from students showing up for and supporting one another’s well-being to school-wide efforts around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging—efforts that lead us closer to being a community where each member thrives.

Upper School students collaborating on a class project. Our new vision and strategic priorities, announced in March, encourage further opportunities to work together, solve problems, create knowledge, and impact lives.

As I think about the future of education at Rowland Hall, I am encouraged and inspired by what I see as limitless potential for our students. Together, we can continue to imagine a school that is intentional in developing people the world needs—one where all members feel they belong and are empowered to make a difference; where students of all ages create knowledge, not just learn knowledge, and are excited to solve problems they care about; and where community is a catalyst for innovation and change. We are building that together now, and I look forward to our bright future.

Thank you for all you do to support our students and community.

Mick Gee, Head of School