June 1, 2023
from Bill Hudson, head of school
As the 2022-2023 school year draws to a close, we find ourselves in that liminal moment where memory and hope intersect. American folk artist, Grandma Moses, called this intersection a “strange thing.” Memory and hope are two perspectives that both exist and are available in the present moment. Memory allows us to look back to recall the events, experiences, and emotions in the past. Hope is directed toward the future with an enthusiastic anticipation of what is to come. While memory is grounded in the present and the past, hope reaches beyond the present and propels us toward the future.
Over the last nine months, we celebrated the loss of teeth; uniforms that fit so well in September that now rise above the ankle; students who stumbled and stammered in front of a crowd now speaking confidently; the screech of a violin bow that now sings beautifully; and seniors who recall the pain and trauma of adolescence in their senior speeches that have been transcended by a newfound sense of self and resiliency. I could go on and on.
Those of us who work in schools forever live in a liminal moment that not only speaks of the growth and development of our students but also of ourselves. Middle School English teacher Maddy Wolfe captures this so beautifully in an article recently published by the National Association of Independent Schools on their Independent Ideas blog. She writes, “When adults share which teachers impacted their lives, we don’t stop and think about it the other way around, too. Students leave marks on teachers’ lives, as well. In many ways, this student embodied the reason why I became an educator: to watch a student’s growth over the course of nine months, when the only thing you can do is marvel at what young adolescents are capable of.”
As I scour my memory of the last year, there is so much to celebrate. We have made significant progress towards implementing 2024ward, our strategic plan. Students have excelled in speech, debate, Future Cities, and athletic competitions. We will soon have a new track, funded collectively by current and alumni parents. These are only a few examples of a very good school year.
Theologian Walter Bruggeman said that “Memory produces hope in the same way that amnesia produces despair.” “It’s an extraordinary statement,” author, historian, and activist Rebecca Solnit wrote, “one that reminds us that though hope is about the future, grounds for hope lie in the records and recollections of the past.” I’ve always believed that education is a fundamental act of hope. When friends despair about the state of affairs of our society or world, I pipe up optimistically because I witness the human capacity for growth each day and am privileged to work with young people who I am confident will tackle head-on the challenges we face.
Thank you for entrusting your children to MPA. Thank you for partnering with us, for investing your expertise, volunteering your time, and contributing your financial resources to the school. As we part ways for a few months, I extend my warm wishes for a restful and relaxing summer. I hope you enjoy time with family and loved ones and look forward to coming together again in August.
