Head's Weekly Message — Jan. 22, 2021
Dear Mayfield Senior School Parents,
I know our community is very tired. We are tired of Zoom meetings, we are tired of staying at home, and we are tired of being kept apart from friends and loved ones. But what gives me such great hope is that we all just keep on trying. We are not giving up or giving in—we are summoning the strength and determination to keep moving forward with generosity, kindness, and love. I want to thank our entire school community—our parents, faculty, administrators, Board members and other supporters, but especially our students who continue to grow even as they grieve.
Back
I hope you enjoyed a lovely long Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend. As we began the second semester of this very challenging school year, I have taken some time to reflect on our progress as a school community over the past months and to think about what lies ahead. I was particularly inspired by the poem, The Hill We Climb, written and recited by our country’s National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman, during the inauguration ceremonies on Wednesday. What struck me most powerfully was her message of hope and resilience.
“Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:
That even as we grieved, we grew
That even as we hurt, we hoped,
That even as we tired, we tried”
This week I was also so inspired by the speeches of our own ninth-graders during their class elections. Running for any kind of office takes real courage and serving others often entails real sacrifice. Our youngest Cubs provide me with a motivational model that I seek to emulate.
Our amazing alums also provide me with such motivating hope, and our students will have the opportunity to be inspired, too, this coming Wednesday, Jan. 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at our Virtual Career Day. While our seniors are required to attend these sessions, all students are cordially invited to participate. Additional information will be sent out with all the details about this wonderful opportunity.
As we turn the page on the first half of our school year, please note that semester grades will be posted on Saturday through iMSS. Please take some time over the weekend to talk with your daughters about their progress. Our students have been working so incredibly hard, and they deserve a great deal of praise for their efforts. This is also a great time to help your daughters formulate some goals and action steps for the next few months.
Finally, as we continue our plans for the 2021-22 school year, it is with very mixed emotions that I share with you the news that our amazing and beloved school counselor, Cristina Perez, will be leaving Mayfield at the end of the school year, having accepted a Clinical Faculty position at USC. Over the last five years, Cristina has been instrumental in developing our student support program into one of Mayfield’s most impressive and transformational initiatives. She also played a crucial role in developing and launching our FOS program. We will be forever grateful to Cristina for her dedicated and loving service to our school. I know you all join me in wishing Cristina the very best as she continues to dedicate herself to the well-being and health of others.
With Love and Gratitude,
Kate Morin
Established in 1931, Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena, CA is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for young women grades 9-12. Noted for its rigorous academic program, which includes 28 Advanced Placement and Honors courses, Mayfield’s curriculum is underscored by a philosophy of educating the “whole child,” which also encourages commitment to and excellence in the arts, athletics, community service and spiritual growth. The nurturing environment at Mayfield Senior School allows each student to flourish in an atmosphere of personal attention.
