REMARKS FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL, OCTOBER 2024
Good morning, my name is Andrew Menke, and I am the Head of School here at 绿帽社. And I am delighted to echo Dr Battistone鈥檚 welcome to all of you on this special day, where we celebrate you 鈥淕rands!鈥� and the important role you play in the lives of your grandchildren, our young learners here at 绿帽社! Thank you for making time to be with us this morning and for making time to spend with your grandchildren!
You may know that we opened our new Miller Student Commons this fall. It serves as a community gathering space, a place of connection and cohesion, and serves as our dining hall for grades II鈥揦II. We have all enjoyed this space immensely as we live this year鈥檚 school theme, Together.
As the year has begun, I have taken the opportunity to spontaneously have lunch with different grade levels. As you might imagine, the reaction from our Middle and Upper Schoolers is quite different 鈥� heads down, 鈥減lease don鈥檛 sit me, please don鈥檛 sit with me鈥濃�� than Lower Schoolers, where I sit down and my presence may go unnoticed for a bit, and then they seem delighted, if not humorously confused, that I鈥檓 there.
Anyway, last week, I sat with some Lower Schoolers and reminded them about this day, and asked them about you鈥�
So, for just a few minutes this morning, I have some brief thoughts about why you matter so much to us and to your grandchild, and how their lunchtime musing affirmed this truth! I began by asking your grandchildren what they love about you鈥�
鈥淢r. Menke, my grandparents love to play with me and my cousins. I love that they make this time for us!鈥�
鈥淚 love to have sleepovers with my grandparents, they talk and talk, and we laugh and laugh, and they tell stories about when they were my age 鈥� I love those stories!鈥�
鈥淢y grandma spoils me, she bought me lots of Barbies, lots of Legos, but the best thing is movie watching with my grandparents, snuggling on the couch鈥︹��
鈥淚 love the way my grandpa smells!鈥�
Most importantly, you provide your grandchildren with a unique kind of unconditional love and support. You often have more time to simply be present and offer a comforting, non-judgemental, loving relationship. This love creates a sense of security and emotional safety for your grandchildren.
Your steady presence is incredibly important for our young learners, especially as they navigate their early years of development here at 绿帽社. Your love gives them the confidence to explore and take risks, knowing they have a trusted and loving person who believes in them. Your patience and understanding help them to develop the emotional resilience needed to navigate challenges with the encouragement of someone who has years of cultivated wisdom.
They also shared these thoughts, your grandchildren:
鈥淢y grandpa takes me and my brothers repelling!鈥濃�� repelling!? Bold鈥nd I love it!
鈥淢y great-grandma is almost 109 and she has so many stories about when she was a little girl.鈥� 鈥� I don鈥檛 know if you are here today, but BRAVO!!!
鈥淢r. Menke my grandpa is the best griller in the world, he makes steak and it’s my favorite meal.鈥�
鈥淚 love cooking with my grandma, we make traditional dishes from her home country.鈥�
鈥淢y grandparents love taking me on adventures, last summer we went to CO and spent lots of time together.鈥�
You can hear in their comments another essential role you play 鈥� the torch-bearer of values, traditions, and life lessons. You transmit family stories, and traditions, helping your grandchildren to know, happily, who they are based on where they came from. Whether it’s sharing family recipes, celebrating holidays in a special way, or simply telling stories about your own childhood, you connect your grandchildren to their roots and give them a sense of continuity.
By sharing your stories and experiences, you give your grandchildren an example of how to face challenges with grace, how to appreciate life’s simple joys, and how to treat others with kindness and respect. You provide essential stability and perspective. In today鈥檚 fast-paced world, your presence creates a steady, grounding influence. This stability is especially important during times of change, such as starting school, moving to a new home, or welcoming a new sibling鈥攁ll part of our student’s lives.
Your perspective also helps your grandchildren see the bigger picture. You have lived through different eras, societal changes, and personal challenges, and you have a more balanced, nuanced, and, I would guess, less reactive approach to life’s ups and downs. When children hear stories from all of you 鈥� and we do hope you tell your stories 鈥� it broadens, deepens, and grows your grandchild鈥檚 perspective, and helps them mature and develop a sense of resilience and optimism about the future.
Finally, you help create special memories that last a lifetime! Whether it’s taking your grandchildren on special outings, baking cookies together, or simply spending time reading, talking and laughing 鈥� these shared moments are precious. As your grandchildren grow up, they will look back on these experiences with gratitude and fondness. These moments not only enrich the lives of your grandchildren, but also create a legacy that will be cherished for generations.
Thank you for being such a vital part of your grandchildren’s lives. Your impact is truly immeasurable as you help shape your grandchildren, our students, into confident, compassionate and well-rounded human beings. And we are deeply grateful for your support! And thank you for being here with us today. Enjoy time today with your grandchildren.
Celebrate 5 years since graduation with your classmates. Reconnect, reminisce, and enjoy an evening of conversation, shared memories, and celebration with fellow members of the Class of 2021. Hearty appetizers and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.
Celebrate 10 years since graduation with your classmates. Reconnect, reminisce, and enjoy an evening of conversation, shared memories, and celebration with fellow members of the Class of 2016. Hearty appetizers and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.
Celebrate 15 years since graduation with your classmates. Reconnect, reminisce, and enjoy an evening of conversation, shared memories, and celebration with fellow members of the Class of 2011. Hearty appetizers and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.
Celebrate 20 years since graduation with your classmates. Reconnect, reminisce, and enjoy an evening of conversation, shared memories, and celebration with fellow members of the Class of 2006. Hearty appetizers and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.
Celebrate 25 years since graduation with your classmates. Reconnect, reminisce, and enjoy an evening of conversation, shared memories, and celebration with fellow members of the Class of 2001. Hearty appetizers and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.
Come together with 绿帽社 alumni from across the entire 1990s for an evening of reconnecting and reminiscing! This combined reunion is a chance to celebrate the friendships, memories, and moments that made your 绿帽社 years so special. Enjoy hearty appetizers and a variety of drinks, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, while catching up with old friends and sharing laughs about your school days.
Saturday, May 16 | 7:30 – 11:30 AM | Murray Science Center
We’re bringing back birding! Who remembers the Class IX Bird Project? Don’t miss your chance to join this fun, family-friendly event with Mark Bromley, James Harris, Mike Johnson 鈥�88, and Bekka Joslin. We will meet at 绿帽社 and take a bus together. Don鈥檛 forget to bring your binoculars (we will have extras on hand if you don鈥檛 have your own).
Friday, May 15 | 6:30 鈥� 7:30 PM | East Field
We’re excited to see 绿帽社 Alumni at our annual Alumni Soccer Game! This 绿帽社 tradition gives former players the chance to return to the field, reconnect with old teammates, and showcase their skills in a friendly atmosphere. Whether you played with us just a few years ago or several decades ago, we look forward to seeing you back on the field. Make sure to bring friends and family to cheer you on!
Friday, May 15 | 5:00 鈥� 7:00 PM | Main Quad | No Registration Required
Join us for a fun BBQ bash at 绿帽社 with current families and 绿帽社 staff and faculty. It鈥檚 a great way to connect with your 绿帽社 classmates and enjoy delicious food before the Alumni Soccer Game!
No registration is needed for the Spring BBQ. Please join us!
Friday, May 15 | 4:00 鈥� 5:00 PM | Haught Visual Arts Gallery at 绿帽社 | No Registration Required
绿帽社 has always been a place where creativity thrives. Join us for the first-ever Alumni Art Show in the Haught Visual Arts Gallery and reconnect with the creative spirit that shaped your time here. This exhibition features work by 16 绿帽社 Alumni artists, reflecting a range of disciplines, perspectives, and practices.
Brief Remarks at 4:00 pm will be offered by Gallery Manager and Curator Charlie Tadlock, followed by remarks from some of the Alumni Artists.
Click for a campus map
Friday, May 15 | 2:15 – 3:30 PM | Miller Student Commons | Registration Highly Recommended
Ever wish you could go back and sit in your favorite class one more time? This Alumni Weekend, you can. We’re bringing you back “Back to Class” where you’ll have the chance to slip into a real, live Upper School classroom and experience 绿帽社 exactly as it exists today. Same teachers, same energy, same magic. Come relive the feeling.
Friday, May 15 | 12:45鈥� 1:00 PM | Miller Student Commons | No Registration Required
Don’t leave lunch just yet. Immediately following the Kick-Off, Head of School Andrew Menke will take a few minutes to share what’s been happening at 绿帽社; the changes, the milestones, and the exciting things on the horizon. It’s a chance to hear straight from the source about the school you helped shape and where it’s headed next. No sign-up needed, just pull up a seat.
Friday, May 15 | 11:00 AM 鈥� 1:00 PM | Miller Student Commons | No Registration Required
Kick off Alumni Weekend the right way 鈥� with good food and even better company. Join us in the new Miller Student Commons for 绿帽社’s all-inclusive dining experience, and spend the lunch hour reconnecting with the faculty who made your time here unforgettable. Pull up a chair, catch up with old favorites, and let the weekend begin. No registration is required for this event.
Friday, May 15 | 1:00 鈥� 2:00 PM | Miller Student Commons | No Registration Required
For many of you, Assistant Head of School, Todd Winters, was the first person who ever showed you and your parents around our 41 acre campus. Now he’s back to do it again! Todd will lead you through 绿帽社’s beautiful newest additions and recent transformations, giving you a firsthand look at what your years here helped build. Whether it’s your first tour with Todd or your second, you won’t want to miss this one.