The View From Here: How We're Doing

“The View From Here” is pretty much always the same these days: my laptop, my phone, my cup of coffee. What does change, however, is the “gallery view” on my screen, filled with faces. I’ve met almost daily with the admin team to coordinate plans and services. I’ve conferred with over 150 California heads of school on calls with CAIS, our independent school accrediting organization. I’ve seen over 70 alumni in Brandon’s Story Time the other night (so grown up!). The executive committee of the board has been gathering regularly and this morning there was a mega SAPA board meeting, overflowing with tears and laughter (see below). Thanks to Amanda and Changa, a group of staffulty did Zoom Karaoke last week and that was a blast.

I feel grateful to be working closely with so many dedicated, brilliant, loving individuals. It’s been a time of extraordinary creativity and productivity. All that said, I’ve been reflecting on what I heard from my advisees this morning when I asked them how things were going with their classes. They were for the most part positive. “I’m learning just as much as I was before,” said one senior. “As an introvert, this is working quite well for me!” said a sophomore. And a 9th grader told the group that taking a little quiz in Spanish went well because there was “a lot of trust; my teacher knew we wouldn’t look up the answers.” They did, however, all acknowledge how much they miss being in each other’s presence and the spontaneous connections that happen when we are together on our beautiful campus. They miss the serendipity of crossed paths and the open seat at a table at lunch that allows them to sit with friends they don’t always see in class.

I’ve been pointing out silver linings and have heard many from all corners of our community. It is a unique strength to be able to see the gifts and grace that can come through calamity. But it is also true that all of us are feeling a measure of sadness and disappointment for all that we are missing in our own lives; and grief for the tragedy that is unfolding on a global scale.

I often function as a cheerleader for our school spirit and most of the time I am genuinely able to enjoy the connections, the working together, the fun moments watching Darren and his wife Shannon do karaoke from their garage. But at times throughout this experience, when I have given myself those moments of space and time, I am aware of my own deep sadness as we quickly pivot and shift away from what has been the normal rhythm and flow of the school year. I can only imagine that many of you find yourselves fluctuating between these poles of experience as well.

So, as we end our first week “back” at school, I want you to know that whatever this week has been like for you personally, whatever you are feeling as you face the coming weeks, we’ll get through it, day be day, as we have so far, and our paths will cross again. We’ll hug. Really!