Finding your rhythm

By Aléwa Cooper
Head of School

Happy New Year! On the first day back after the break, I took a walk around campus. It’s something I try to do whenever we return from time away. It helps me get a feel for the energy of the day and the community.

Like some of you likely experienced at home, it was a tough morning for some of our youngest learners. Separation can be hard, especially after time spent together over the holidays. It was also a tough morning for many of us simply because we were out of routine. Backpacks felt heavier, alarms came too early, and the familiar rhythm of school hadn’t quite returned yet.

Later that day, a ninth grader stopped by my office. Not for a problem or a question, but just to check in and ask how my break had been. Before leaving, she offered some reassuring advice: “You’ll find your rhythm quickly.” It was simple, thoughtful, and exactly right.

And that’s what we’re all doing. Finding our rhythm again.

Each January, I’m struck by how much students seem to have grown during the time away. They come back a little taller, a little more confident, a little more mature, and they truly are. Yet even with that growth, there are moments that remind us how much they still need us. This week, I watched fifth graders eagerly settle in as their teacher read aloud to them, completely absorbed. It was a reminder that no matter how old we get, there’s comfort in being grounded, guided, and supported.

Routine matters. It gives students a sense of safety and predictability, and it helps them do their best learning. Our role, together, is to keep supporting them as they settle back in, while also giving them the space and encouragement to grow.

As we move into the new year, let’s continue to help our students find their rhythm, rebuild routines, and discover new confidence along the way. Growth doesn’t mean letting go of support. It means offering it in ways that allow them to stretch, explore, and thrive.

Thank you for being such important partners in this work. Here’s to a year of learning, growth, and finding our rhythm together.