Centennial State of the School

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State of the School from the Head

D

ear Ethel Walker Family and Friends,

CENTENNIAL The fall of 2011 has been nothing short of extraordinary. On October 1, over 1200 alumnae, parents and friends gathered under the tent for our Centennial Chapel. The program included Sigourney Weaver ’67 with a keynote address, our students’ account of the School through the decades, and a wonderful intergenerational choir. That evening the tent was transformed for our SunDial Celebration Dinner enjoyed by 700 guests. Look for details and photos of Centennial weekend in our commemorative issue of the SunDial magazine and the Centennial section of our website. Centennial was truly a watershed moment for The Ethel Walker School. I have enclosed a Centennial keepsake with several remarkable speeches.

OCTOBER STORM Three short weeks later, Simsbury endured a record-breaking storm with 14 inches of snow and high winds on leafladen trees resulting in 10 days without power. Luckily the campus did not sustain any structural damage; however, Beaver Brook was the only campus facility with a generator, and became a haven to faculty families and students who were unable to get home. The National Guard was deployed for several days, service crews arrived from around the country, and the clean up will take months. I have never been more proud of my team; they worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and operation of the School.

2011-12 INSTITUTIONAL GOALS As we continue to manage to our Strategic Plan, we have committed to the following 2011-12 institutional goals: • • •

We will continue to pursue academic and ethical excellence through innovation and collaboration We will empower our students to explore peace initiatives and global awareness, with a focus on China, by participating in opportunities that foster global understanding We will celebrate our past and ensure our future by enlisting the talents and support of our constituencies to launch a Centennial Campaign.

ACADEMICS Admission to and success at competitive colleges continues to be at the forefront of our mission. Our seniors are busy applying to colleges, the culmination of a proactive college counseling program that begins well before senior year. 66% of the senior class (of 41 students) has submitted an early decision or early action college application. We offer 19 AP and 22 honors courses, as part of an innovative curriculum that focuses on 21st century skills. Electives include Anatomy & Physiology, Astronomy, AP Economics, Caribbean Studies, Equine Science, English 12: “Love, Power, and Revenge,” Mandarin Chinese, Middle East and Beyond, and Social and Political Philosophy, to name just a few. At the core of our academic excellence is the passion and talent of our faculty. Our artistic and athletic strengths continue to promote our school in many positive ways; tournament champions and regional finalist are among our fall accomplishments. In addition to existing exchange programs in Scotland, New Zealand, and Australia, we are exploring additional opportunities in South Africa and China. Continued on next page


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