Start of School: Upper School

A Message from Head of Upper School Marnie Sadlowsky

Dear Upper School Families,

I hope this note finds you well and enjoying the last weeks of our summer break! I recently read the back-to-preseason letter from Micah Hauben and caught my breath – this summer really seemed to fly. Our summer was productive to be sure, but as I say each year, I always miss the energy of our students during these summer months.

The summer is a wonderful time for us to prepare to do our best for our students come September. This summer, teachers have been traveling, taking classes, presenting at conferences, chaperoning our wonderful range of summer travel experiences for our students, and creating new courses. For example, we are excited to offer new courses in Anatomy and Physiology, American Political Economy, Statistics, an Advanced Seminar in Swift Programming Language, an Honors Environmental Science class, AP Studio Art, 3D Art and Design, and Discrete Mathematics. These new courses were designed to complement the core “literacy” muscles that King graduates develop – that is, knowing how to speak, read, write, and think using English and one other modern language, as well as the languages of mathematics, the humanities, and the various science and social science fields. Feeling comfortable “code-switching” between mathematical thinking and scientific inquiry, or among the types of interpretive practices one encounters in literary analysis and those utilized in historical or artistic study, is crucial to becoming a powerfully-educated person.

Of course, knowing oneself as a learner, bringing the growth mindset to one’s work, and learning to embrace the cultural values of Integrity, Kindness, Perseverance and Respect are also central to the education our students engage in here at King. We are excited for a year of new opportunities to come face-to-face with challenging lessons and mind-bending moments of learning in all areas of our life together.

We are also certainly eager to welcome Dr. Karen Eshoo to her first King bell-ringing ceremony and her first full King school year! What a pleasure it has been to work with her this summer. Her knowledge and energy are a powerful combination, and I know our students will find her so inspiring. We all will!

Summer also brings the opportunity for building improvements, and I’ve been so pleased to see our new Innovation Lab and a new classroom on our mezzanine level taking shape. The Innovation Lab will provide the space for project-based, hands-on, solution-focused learning under the direction of Innovation Lab Director Kathryn Warren and her team of cross-disciplinary teachers. Not only will the Lab house robotics and other high-tech endeavors, but it also will engage our students in a range of creative enterprises across – and linking – many fields of study. After all, true learning occurs through trial and error, through application, through bravely trying and trying again to create something new, to solve a real problem. This Lab will make visible the type of learning that we celebrate at King in new and palpable ways. We are so proud to be able to offer this type of sophisticated space to our students and their teachers.

Finally, we are getting new carpeting, some classrooms have been sound-proofed, and new track lighting will be installed on the mezzanine level to further highlight our art installations. So, quite a bit of summer work going on!

As we finalize preparations for a new year, please keep in mind a few preparations for your families that will help the transition to September go smoothly. First, please remember that all the required components in the Magnus Health System must be 100% completed for all students before they can participate in preseason, school-sponsored activities, or attend classes in September. Please also familiarize yourself with staffulty members new to our community or new to a role. Should you have any questions about your child’s course selections, please contact Ted Parker, our Associate Head of Upper School and Academic Dean. Note that student schedules will be sent to you via email on August 28. Also, please review all the links to materials on this webpage to help you prepare for the school year, including information about the US Dress Code and back-to-school trips and activities.

Again, I am so excited for the school year to begin. For me, September marks my “new year” – so Happy New Year to you all, a sincerest welcome to our new families, and as always, please know you have my deepest commitment to the growth and success of each of your children. See you on campus soon!

Be Well,

Marnie Sadlowsky
Associate Head of School for Program
Head of Upper School