Scott's Blog
Head of School, Year 3: Belonging
FAIS families, students, staff, supporters, and alumni:
Last year started differently than we expected. But, together and with amazing resilience, we remained committed to staying connected, grateful, and joyful.
Year 3 has us starting the school year back on campus -- all grades, all day, all week! While life has not yet returned to "ordinary," FAIS continually proves to be EXTRAordinary, and a community to which I am proud to belong. I am committed to ensuring that sense of belonging is felt by each of us, every time we step on campus.
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![Silhouetted hugging]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1633126334/faispdx/eplec70ql5aikxdqay2z/Silhouettedhugging.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1633126334/faispdx/eplec70ql5aikxdqay2z/Silhouettedhugging.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1633126334/faispdx/eplec70ql5aikxdqay2z/Silhouettedhugging.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1633126334/faispdx/eplec70ql5aikxdqay2z/Silhouettedhugging.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1633126334/faispdx/eplec70ql5aikxdqay2z/Silhouettedhugging.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1633126334/faispdx/eplec70ql5aikxdqay2z/Silhouettedhugging.jpg","width":2200}])
It truly feels like we are in full swing of the new school year, now that the opening days and back-to-school nights are behind us... and the rain has settled in. As I have said many times, I don’t think there is anyone happier to be back in-person more than I am.
![5th Grade Celebration 2021]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1624492329/faispdx/anw3ngien7ssgnzu0tqn/5thgradecelebration2021.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1624492329/faispdx/anw3ngien7ssgnzu0tqn/5thgradecelebration2021.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1624492329/faispdx/anw3ngien7ssgnzu0tqn/5thgradecelebration2021.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1624492329/faispdx/anw3ngien7ssgnzu0tqn/5thgradecelebration2021.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1624492329/faispdx/anw3ngien7ssgnzu0tqn/5thgradecelebration2021.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1624492329/faispdx/anw3ngien7ssgnzu0tqn/5thgradecelebration2021.jpg","width":2200}])
We made it! Together. Congratulations to our 8th graders and 5th graders! Their resiliency amidst everything this year threw at them is beyond inspiring.
![A potted orchid sits on a desk in front of a window]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1618600419/faispdx/rw5arjiczp8x5agfr9dr/orchid.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1618600419/faispdx/rw5arjiczp8x5agfr9dr/orchid.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1618600419/faispdx/rw5arjiczp8x5agfr9dr/orchid.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1618600419/faispdx/rw5arjiczp8x5agfr9dr/orchid.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1618600419/faispdx/rw5arjiczp8x5agfr9dr/orchid.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1618600419/faispdx/rw5arjiczp8x5agfr9dr/orchid.jpg","width":2200}])
The photo here is of an orchid sitting on my desk at home (I know, a blog in April about a flower -- stay with me).
![first day back after distance learning]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1613173964/faispdx/xhfezsni74p3x2wcpb4f/squarecollage.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1613173964/faispdx/xhfezsni74p3x2wcpb4f/squarecollage.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1613173964/faispdx/xhfezsni74p3x2wcpb4f/squarecollage.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1613173964/faispdx/xhfezsni74p3x2wcpb4f/squarecollage.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1613173964/faispdx/xhfezsni74p3x2wcpb4f/squarecollage.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1613173964/faispdx/xhfezsni74p3x2wcpb4f/squarecollage.jpg","width":2200}])
This week, we welcomed over 120 students back to campus for in-person classes! It has been a long (and winding) road to get here, but we have arrived here together because -- despite being physically distanced -- we continued to come together in spirit as a community.
![Campus sign, reading "all in this together"]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1603489870/faispdx/tvpuuo1fuxjmeqzajm1r/Campussign--allinthistogether.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1603489870/faispdx/tvpuuo1fuxjmeqzajm1r/Campussign--allinthistogether.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1603489870/faispdx/tvpuuo1fuxjmeqzajm1r/Campussign--allinthistogether.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1603489870/faispdx/tvpuuo1fuxjmeqzajm1r/Campussign--allinthistogether.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1603489870/faispdx/tvpuuo1fuxjmeqzajm1r/Campussign--allinthistogether.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1603489870/faispdx/tvpuuo1fuxjmeqzajm1r/Campussign--allinthistogether.jpg","width":2200}])
Right now, life seems tilted far past the normal 23.5 degrees. We have all had moments in the past two months where we wondered if the Tilt was so severe that we would simply fall off the proverbial edge. But we didn't (thankfully!).