The 2021-22 school year officially got underway this morning with the senior class parade and community-wide flag raising on the campus green. While the event was kept short due to continued adherence to pandemic protocols, Ravens from PreK to twelfth grade seemed excited and ready to start the new year.

The first day of school brought the Class of 2022 together for their first official event as seniors. They wore their class T-shirts — many of them tie-dyed — and embraced their new role with fun traditions: greeting younger Ravens at Lower School and Middle School carpool, posing with classmates for a class photo in front of the Bell Tower, enjoying breakfast at LJ’s Place and walking as a group to the campus green amidst cheers and congratulations from the rest of the school community. 

Following the ceremonial tolling of the campus bell as students, faculty and staff gathered around the central flagpole, Head of School Doreen Kelly welcomed everyone with a back-to-school prayer, written by the Rev. Carrie Schofield-Broadbent of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York, that expressed hope for a year of learning, community and wellness:

For the students who are beginning a new school year, give them curious minds, critical thinking skills, the ability to tell right from wrong and the courage to act with integrity. Help them to learn deep truths about this world and about people so that they may be good citizens for the good of the whole.

For the students who struggle with learning, give them patience, confidence and grace. Help them to know the many ways that you’ve gifted them, even if reading, math or memorizing don’t come easy. For the students for whom learning does come easily, help them with the gift of humility. May they all know enough challenges to keep them sharp, strong and grateful and enough successes to keep them engaged, confident and proud of themselves.

For the students who are lonely, hurt, unsafe, unwell, anxious or depressed. Breathe your peace and health into them; may they be supported by people who understand them and love them.

Students from each division participated in presenting the colors for the flagraising: Lower School students Leah Rivers ’29 and Wesley Wu ’29; Hayden Perry ’26 and Charlotte Stringer ’26, Middle School Student Leadership Council co-presidents; and senior class president Sunishka Deshpande ’22 and vice president Alexa Shaffer ’22. 

The entire gathering then sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Student Government Association president Delaney Washington ’22 welcomed all students back to campus. Alumni Council president Watts Winston ’10 then presented Delaney and SGA vice president Shane Olander ’22 with the Class of 2022’s banner, saying to seniors, “I look forward to welcoming each and every one of you to the Alumni Association this year.”

Students and teachers then returned to their classrooms and started their day, which closed with an early release.

Enjoy more photos from the first day in our Flickr album and in posts via our Facebook and Instagram social media accounts.