Moments of: The Blog
The View From Here: A New View
Each new school year always offers a fresh start that brims with hope and optimism. This year, even without the momentous change demanded by our shift to remote learning, feels even more like a new beginning. A literal clean slate as I begin my first year at SA. In that spirit, when I thought about writing these weekly reflections to our community, I considered whether it made sense to change the name of this column, to reinvent it in some way.
But now, more than ever, a “View From Here” seems necessary. The physical “here” will vary over the course of the year. Today, I am writing from my family’s new home in Santa Rosa; hopefully later this year, I’ll watch students pass by in the plaza on their way to class while I write from my office. I will not feel fully moved into my office until I see our campus brimming with student laughter and the warmth that comes from us all being together. The real “here,” though, transcends our campus. The heart of Sonoma Academy is more than a physical place. While we are all experiencing SA from different geographic locations throughout the North Bay, the real place of our school is the community and commitment that binds us all together.
As we end our first week of school, I am filled with so many emotions about the start of our year and the many challenges we face as a school and as a community. There is excitement about the possibilities of the year ahead; pride in the inventiveness of our faculty as they reimagine their pedagogy to fit the constraints of distance learning; solemn consideration of the fact that wildfire season has started so early, against the backdrop of the pandemic and the resulting economic strain. These are not easy times, and our resiliency and resolve is being tested each day as we courageously move forward.
But there is also joy. In my advisory meetings this week, my advisees were not too focused on the stress and anxiety brought about by the fires and unhealthy air quality. Instead, they wanted to talk about their inspiring new teachers and classes, the happiness and excitement of connecting with classmates, and the positive energy and sense of possibility they have for the new school year. Our students are fully prepared to embrace the challenges of this year, and I am already so impressed with their ability to find optimism and opportunity in the face of unprecedented obstacles and challenges.
As I mentioned in my Convocation speech on Tuesday, I was drawn to SA by the creativity, sense of adventure, and spirit of connectedness that characterizes the heart of our school. This year will give us all many chances to put those qualities on display, to learn together, and to grow as a community. The view from here may be a bit smokey at the moment, and it is certainly different from the view we envisioned at this time last year. But just like the strikingly colorful sunsets we have seen lately, this view has a particular charm and glow to it. Despite the challenges it represents, our community has the vision to see through to what is really important.
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.
