3 LISA CONRAD Head of School I feel that the true definition of joy goes beyond the limited explanation presented in a dictionary — “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” At Park, true joy emerges as a byproduct of the school’s programs, traditions, offerings, and gatherings when they are at their most robust. For the first time in three years, we concluded the school year last June with a Commencement ceremony under the tent in the Quad without a limit on attendees. While this event has always been a cause for celebration, this year the celebration was amplified because a sense of normalcy had returned to Park. Normalcy is not usually notable, but the lifting of COVID restrictions enabling our return to customary rituals has been palpably joyous for our community. The 2022 Commencement, true to the term, was just the beginning for Park. In September, the entire student body and all of our faculty, staff, and administrators were able to gather for a group photo in front of The KnoppHailpern Center. Late in November, we witnessed the culmination of our theater students’ hard work and dedication when they took the stage for the first time since 2020 for the performance of 12 Angry Jurors. And soon after, we all came together for our Autumn Assembly and heard our amazing student performers sing and play in the jazz ensemble. Our hearts burst with joy hearing all of our students perform together again because we were able to experience this together, in one place, at one performance. The truth is, Park is back. Though Park was able to fulfill its mission while adhering to protective COVID masking, distancing, and cohorting protocols, the Park programmatic model we all know and love has returned. Students will partake in Immersion this year; Upper Schoolers had a blast at a Homecoming dance in early November; and socials are planned for each division throughout the year. The gym is once again rocking with fans for our girls and boys basketball games. Students have begun rehearsing for our spring musical, Mary Poppins. It is because of this and more that I am able to hear laughter, see smiles, and watch the love of learning grow in our students in the context of Park’s full program. Witnessing Park overflowing with activity is truthfully what brings me joy. As we reflect on the impact of the pandemic, we are proud that the team was able to fulfill Park’s mission even within the restraints imposed by COVID. Our faculty’s unwavering focus on the core curriculum enabled our students to continue to succeed and grow their skills. I am so grateful to all the members of the Park community who helped us maintain a safe, healthy, and dynamic program since the start of the pandemic. Though things may have looked different at Park for a couple years during the pandemic, the truth and the joy that constitute the foundation of a Park education were always present, cultivated, and kept safe so that they could burst out and blossom once we were able to reopen. And it is with this kind of truth and joy always at the forefront of my mind that I look forward to the rest of the year seeing our students experience the exceptional learning opportunities here at Park.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTcyNDA=