Jason Gay is a fantastic sports writer, but my favorite words he’s ever written are not about sports at all: “‘Abs are built in the kitchen,’ the saying goes. You know what is also built in the kitchen? Pancakes. Sweet, delicious pancakes.”
It’s been a wonderful week at MICDS—so much fun, so much school spirit—the beginning of which for Ruth and me was not Monday but Saturday, when we hosted 25 Middle and Upper School students at the campus residence for a joyful pancake brunch. The event marked a belated return to form for us, having hosted a few such gatherings in 2019-2020, our first year at MICDS, before the pandemic set in. It was delightful to see several “repeat customers” from those inaugural pancake brunches, some of whom are pictured here hauling our lazy bulldog, Silas, in a wagon up the path to the house four years ago.
You might be able to spot these same veteran brunch aficionados in the photos below along with many welcome first-timers—and our new canine companion, Nelson, of course, who is always a good boy when the aromas of pancakes, bacon, fruit, and maple syrup are in the air.
Afterwards, I asked the students what they liked most about the brunch, and this is what a few of them had to say:
Hanging out with Nelson and my friends • Meeting new people from different grades • Getting to see some of my friends and having amazing pancakes • Seeing and meeting friends for the grades above and below me • Playing with Nelson • Mrs. Rainey was so nice and the conversation felt so real and intimate • Doing a puzzle and getting to talk to middle schoolers or just people I didn’t know that well • Nelson, music, the games
Saturday’s brunch was the first of six that Ruth and I have planned for this school year. We are already looking forward to the next one and will be excited to invite more students to join us.
Always reason, always compassion, always courage. My best wishes to your families for a joyful and spirited Homecoming Weekend. Let’s go Rams!!
Jay Rainey
Head of School
This week’s addition to the “Refrains for Rams” playlist: (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone by Aretha Franklin, the sixth track on Lady Soul (1969) which is universally acknowledged as one of the best albums ever recorded (Apple Music / Spotify)