Dear Rumsey community, Rumsey Hall has long taken pride in our strong sense of tradition deeply rooted in family values; yet, as you know, we have been wrestling with some significant challenges since March. The School has answered these challenges with a spirit of community, and this “new normal” has provided an opportunity for innovation, collaboration, and growth. While we may not know what lies around the river bend, we do know that our exceptionally dedicated faculty paired with a skilled and experienced Board of Trustees will navigate the School toward a future that promises strength, vitality, and innovation. As you will see in this issue of Rarebits, we celebrate both traditional campus events such as athletic contests and stage performances as well as new events, including the end-of-year car parade and our virtual commencement ceremony. Paying homage to our past while reinventing for the future, we strive to keep our community connected even when separated by time and space. Together, we have charted the best possible route to beginning the new academic year, understanding that there will be course corrections and adjustments. Our faculty and staff deserve the highest praise and recognition, for they rose to the challenge of creating an exceptional Distance Learning Program to accompany our on-campus instruction. Thoughtful and creative, they designed new lessons and assessments, responding along the way to student and parental feedback. Our faculty are deeply invested in the success of the School, and their complete dedication to reworking every aspect of school life from drop-off to lights-out is proof of this. In addition to responding to the pandemic, we are also called upon to voice our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in words and action. Early in June, Rumsey Hall published a letter to the community stating that, “Rumsey Hall wholly rejects hate in all of its forms, including prejudice, bullying, and elitism and we renounce behavior that excludes others.” We expand upon this most important topic later in the article on page 28. In partnership with Resource Group 175, the Head of School Search Committee has launched a comprehensive and inclusive process, seeking input from all members of our community in identifying the critical skills, experience, and vision a new Head will need in order to ensure Rumsey Hall’s future success. The boat has left the dock; the anchor is lifted, and the journey has begun; I am confident we are ready for the year ahead given the School’s overall health with a strong endowment, a veteran, committed faculty, and loyal, supportive parents and alumni. Thank you for your commitment to the School, your confidence in me, and your support as we steam ahead into a future brimming with promise and opportunity.
Brooke Giese P'23, '27 / Interim Head of School
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