New Beginnings

Wednesday, September 8, was a day for fresh starts and the welcome return to some favorite school routines and traditions as Fay kicked off the 2021-2022 school year. 

Primary School students spent the day getting to know their teachers, classrooms, and classmates. First graders used their Open Circle time in the morning to learn about new classmates, and at the end of the week, they will be taking home “All About Me” bags to fill with meaningful items from home to share with the class. Each student will present the items inside their bag and talk about why it is important to them while their classmates practice listening, asking good questions, and make connections with one another. On Wednesday, second graders completed “All About Me” pennants with information like their favorite food, animal, color, and subject to hang on the wall. They read Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney and talked about their hopes and dreams for the school year.

Lower School students spent Wednesday afternoon competing in "The Faymazing Race," a scavenger hunt and teamwork challenge in which they solved riddles that led them to key locations across campus. Divided up into thirteen teams, students worked together to complete a cup stacking challenge, cross from one “galaxy” to another without touching the ground, find a new friend to play with on the playground, and solve four riddles that led them from the Dining Room Building to Harlow, Reinke, and the clocktower. While the primary goal was to have fun, students who displayed kindness and exemplary teamwork received special recognition at Thursday’s Lower School Morning Meeting!

On Wednesday, Lower and Upper School students were excited to eat as a community again, with students eating together in the Dining Room and Upjohn. As the fall term progresses, Primary School students will also have the opportunity to eat in the Primary Commons on a rotating basis.

Upper School started the first day of school celebrating the return of Morning Meeting in the Harris Theater after a year spent hosting meetings on Zoom. Students greeted Head of Upper School Sarah Remsberg’s welcome back to the theater with enthusiastic applause, showing their appreciation for the opportunity to gather as a community once again. One of the highlights of Morning Meeting is always the musical performances shared by students and staff. On Wednesday, music teacher Lloyd Dugger, music and drama teacher Ilanna Tariff, and Associate Director of Secondary School Counseling Josh Pierson performed a fantastic mash-up of Bruno Mars’ “Count on Me” and Sara Bareilles’ “Brave.” The entire Upper School joined in to sing the final chorus before heading off to the first day of classes and athletics.