You can see and feel it. New teachers here for orientation. Old teachers back on campus. Shipments of new books carefully stacked and sorted. The boys soccer team practicing every day. Fresh pine needles around all the shrubs. School really is about to start. The excitement, the activity, and the pace of preparation are accelerating. Tuesday, August 23, is the first day.
What has happened this summer? We have new roofs on both the Pamela Kimbrell Warlick Visual and Performing Arts Center and the Jim Henry Student Activity Center. We have painted all the school fences. Andy Warlick has given a generous gift to the "It's All Good!" Capital Campaign and, as a result, I have a new title and am now the Anderson Davis Warlick Head of School, which makes me proud and happy. FLIK is our new food service, and I have eaten three of their meals--they were delicious. And, as usual, we have been working feverishly in the Admissions Office to recruit new crop of students. I am happy to tell you that we will be 5 or 10 students larger this year than last. Gaston Day is growing.
This morning we had our first full faculty breakfast, which really is the start of school for the teachers. We learned that Wade Glaser sailed in the Caribbean for a month. Beth Allen became certified to be a captain of commercial sailing vessels. Nancy Brewbaker took a cruise to Alaska. Laura Nunley got married! We are back from recreation and adventure to resume our teaching duties. With a flurry of final preparation, we will be ready for next Tuesday. What a joyful day it is when the new students arrive!!
I hope all of you have had a happy, rewarding summer. I hope you are looking forward to the start of school as much as we are. Welcome back!
