Moments of: The Blog

The View From Here: Senior Solstice

Janet Durgin, Head of School
by Janet Durgin, Head of School
At Opening Convocation, I told a few stories about the founding of our school, including the fact that we opened the doors in 2001 with only 45 students.

Did I mention to you they were all 9th and 10th graders? Now, we are well known for respecting each other at SA, for truly respecting each class, each stage of the high school adventure, but honestly, can you imagine founding a school with only freshmen and sophomores?

I mean--and I am not trashing sophomores; some of my best friends were sophomores when I was a sophomore--but it was hard, folks. These kids had no role models! They were uncontained! And they were great people who eventually became great seniors, but it would be three long years before we graduated our first class and all the while we had no one to turn to for direction and leadership.

I often say to new families, trying to explain the role of student culture at our school, that our students carry the school on their shoulders and the seniors are in front, carrying the heaviest load, We really do count on you to lead the way. And you are doing a terrific job, class of 2020! So, welcome to your Senior Solstice, a slight reframing of the traditional Senior Supper, recognizing a change of date from early fall to December, and with that, a recognition of the fact that we are just about midway through the senior year.

As I'm sure you know, the winter solstice is the shortest day of the year and conversely the longest night. In many cultures, it is a time marked by feasts, rituals, and the telling of stories which is what we are here to do this evening. It is also the beginning of the reversal of shortening nights, the turning point, the beginning of longer days, edging more towards summer and, here in our circumstances, eventually to graduation.

In many ways, this is, in fact, the turning point in the senior year. You launched the year in great form at your retreat, you are almost finished with your first semester courses, and college applications have morphed from a concept into a reality, and you've survived.

Tonight is an opportunity for us all to remember to enjoy the passage of these days, to get the most out of your senior year and your friendships, and to give the most as wel, to your friends, your family, your teachers, and your school. In so doing, you teach future generations of Sonoma Academy seniors how to do it and how to do it well.
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Sonoma Academy Is...

...the only private, independent, college preparatory high school in Sonoma County. On our beautiful campus nestled at the base of Taylor Mountain in Southeastern Santa Rosa, our students are able to explore their interests and passions in a rigorous and inspiring environment that develops a lifelong love of learning and prepares them for college and beyond.

Sonoma Academy admits students of any race, color, religion, ethnicity or national origin, citizenship, gender or gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnicity or national origin, citizenship, gender or gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and tuition assistance programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.