At last week’s 2024 Graduation Exercises, I had the opportunity to pay tribute to the growth and accomplishments of our Grade 8 students. As unique as this class is, the spirit that we celebrate in them points in so many ways to the qualities of community and care at the center of the Park experience. I’m grateful to these students for reminding us so vividly of what it is we stand for – and what it is that makes Park “Park.”
This spring, as many of you will have read in the recent Park School Bulletin, we shared the result of an 18 month collaboration to articulate Park’s statement of “vision,” a clear and authentic statement of what matters most at Park, and the motivation that gets us out of bed to do what we do every day. In boiling the Park experience down to its essence, we came to this: At Park, we find joy in challenge, lead with compassion, achieve with integrity, and advocate for self and others.
Rooted in our core values, these are the qualities that define how our students, teachers, and staff approach our work every day, and it also defines the spirit of community into which we invite all our families.
Our eighth graders understood that true leadership requires compassion. They leaned into opportunities to connect with younger students, whether making friendship bracelets and pulling garlic mustard weeds with their third grade buddies or leading sports teams and drama rehearsals with members of the Upper Division. They understood that building community takes skill, hard work, empathy, and commitment, and as a grade, they were incredible leaders from the very first days of the year forward. These students love to be in community with each other, with their teachers, and with the entire Park School. They are deeply respected for their sincerity and spirit. They show up at Park every day not only ready to contribute, but also thankful for the opportunity to do so, quick to raise a hand and help whenever their leadership was needed. Their compassionate leadership showed through as well in the maturity and a willingness to deepen their global perspectives they exhibited on this spring’s international trips. Their chaperones raved about the ways they conducted themselves and would happily travel with them again!
This group of students has been effective advocates – for themselves as well as others. They brought energy and curiosity to our affinity and alliance spaces this year, welcoming and amplifying the voices, concerns, and challenges of younger students. In doing so, they helped to create a safe space for conversation and collective growth. And their efforts reached beyond campus through their Advoc8 projects this spring–they collected signatures and engaged staff and faculty members with the urgency of initiatives that ranged from stopping gun violence, to increasing composting, and expanding reproductive rights. They saw opportunities to make change, and put their energy into the important work.
At the same time, they found joy in the challenges they encountered. From trying new sports to expressing themselves creatively through electives, they showed us how much fun and discovery can emerge from just being willing to try something unfamiliar and see what comes of it. They took risks, tried new things, and had fun every step of the way.
Along with this, I have been impressed by the sincerity and spirit with which they represented The Park School everywhere they went. Starting with a trip to the MFA and Timeout Market, they marveled at the exhibits, asked insightful questions, tried new foods, and soaked in the world beyond 171 Goddard Avenue. They volunteered at Community Servings in Jamaica Plain–the first Park class in many years to do this large scale service work. Having built an understanding of the risks and ramifications of food insecurity, they rolled up their sleeves, grabbed gloves, aprons, and hairnets, and helped assemble hundreds of meals and snacks for those in need. The results achieved resonate with the deep caring and integrity they brought to the effort, committing themselves as they did to something larger than themselves.
Like the characters in the Grade 8 spring play, “Beware the Jabberwock,” these students gained perspective even when there were bumps along the way. They balanced applications, homework assignments, and high expectations and somehow, through it all, remained curious, joyful, and open. Just as the characters of the wood were ever hopeful that they would “Gyre and Gimbel in the Wabe,” they have taught us to always remain optimistic and to seek authentic connection–reminding us of the importance of embracing the journey rather than just the destination…..and of appreciating everyone you meet along the way.
As I reflect on the accomplishments of each member of the Class of 2024, I know they have embraced Park’s vision, and that they will carry it forward with them, shaping their ongoing growth in the years to come. These young people will now head off in many new directions, and they are ready.
