As I am sure you have seen in pictures, videos and stories, I have been trying to reach all corners of our beautiful campus during these opening weeks of school. I have met so many students and parents, and I am reminded each day of what a wonderful community we have together.
Our collective MICDS spirit came sharply into focus at our all-school assembly yesterday. We gathered for the first time this school year as a full JK-12 multitude, and the feeling of warmth and connection between us was manifest. We took advantage of the beautiful weather and hosted a brief program that included an introduction by our Board Chair, Michelle Cohen ’88, as well as my own remarks to the student body followed by presentations of gifts to my family and our bulldog, Silas, by student leaders from the three School divisions — all in our phenomenal Ron Holtman Stadium. Afterward we enjoyed lunch and Ted Drewes together (when in St. Louis…) and then played field games around campus.
I am still basking in the glow of yesterday’s energy. When you get 1,245 students together and throw in faculty and staff who love to have fun, an extraordinary atmosphere of school spirit transpires. We are all MICDS Rams, and we have much to be thankful for.
Maybe your students came home and shared their experiences with you. I hope our youngest learners carry this feeling of school spirit with them through the rest of their MICDS journey, and I hope our Middle and Upper School students realize what positive role models they can and should be for their younger schoolmates. I was proud of their leadership yesterday.
I am once again reminded of how fortunate I am to be here, to be a part of an unbelievably committed team of faculty and staff who dedicate their lives to the education of young people. I am fortunate to be surrounded by students big and small who are athletes and artists and musicians, builders of robots, players of chess, readers of books and supporters of one another. As I noted in my remarks yesterday, all of us belong at MICDS, and MICDS belongs to all of us.
I can’t wait until we get everyone together again — sooner than later, I hope. Maybe I will see you at Homecoming.
Jay Rainey
Head of School