Greetings from campus, where we’ve had a fantastic first two weeks of school! The start of school brings many emotions—boisterous excitement, understandable nerves, and a palpable joy from being together again that fuels our tanks and propels us into the year ahead. I'm grateful for the care of my colleagues and our senior leaders, who work relentlessly all summer to have us ready to go when September comes. It's been inspiring to watch them in action!

As an educator, the start of a new school year invites reflection. For many reasons, this year, my attention is drawn to the cornerstone guiding our education—our commitment to community. A community is a group of people who share a mutual concern for one another’s welfare. 

This commitment to community - and the civil discourse that holds us together - becomes even more important when division increases, as it inevitably does during an election. The polarization of opinions, amplified by the speed and access of the digital age, makes it easy for differing views to escalate into uncivil exchanges. From political arguments to opinionated social media posts and comments, thoughtful and productive disagreement seems to be a lost art. As a community, we have the responsibility—and the power—to change that by fostering open, civil dialogue that helps us grow together rather than pull us apart. How strange and sad would it be if everyone on our campus had the same opinions and beliefs? The depth and richness of our collective experiences and perspectives is a system feature, not a bug.

While the current political climate underscores the need for respectful dialogue, fostering these skills for our students goes far beyond politics and elections. The ability to exchange ideas and engage with those who see things differently is fundamental to learning. I believe we can do this better than the world around us and use these moments to strengthen the fabric of Holderness.

To that end, I’d like to share the seven principles that lead our Practices of Respectful Discourse, which guide our community this year and every year:

• Be Curious, Open-Minded, and Empathetic
• Challenge Ideas, Not the Person
• Educate Myself
• Recognize Intent, Emphasize Impact
• Intervene Against Incivility
• Trust the Process
• Notice Who is Present; Encourage Participation

These can’t just be words on a document—we seek to bring these skills to life in our classrooms, dorm rooms, community gatherings, and all the moments in between. Creating an experience where everyone feels heard and valued is not just about fostering dialogue; these are teachable opportunities to reinforce our values and bring them to life.

An inspiring example of this is our Service Council. I’ve witnessed a remarkable transformation in student service here at Holderness, to the point where, just last school year, the Service Council raised $30,000 for local non-profits. 

Our students have raised tremendous funding to support their surroundings while exponentially raising awareness among their classmates of the value of service, providing a powerful lesson in the importance of collective effort and shared responsibility.

Our service coordinator, Pam Mulcahy, guides the Service Council - working with students daily throughout the year and weekly throughout the summer. Her insights on the meteoric rise of our Service Council offer inspiring takeaways about our students, their endeavors, and their values.

Service at Holderness seeks to engage students with the broader community, expose them to people, experiences, and ideas that may differ from their own, provide them with a safe space to process and brainstorm solutions and empower them to act and learn by doing.

Whether they are planning and preparing meals for the local homeless shelter, building a Habitat house alongside prisoners, planning a blood drive with Red Cross staff or a Relay for Life with American Cancer Society Staff, or raising funds to support trauma counseling for Ukrainian orphans, Holderness students are deeply involved in learning about others and committed to action.

I have found them eager to help and work together to create solutions to problems – and I am always impressed with their creativity and willingness to work hard to bring their ideas to life. Through their service work, they become advocates for change, using their voices and efforts to address injustice and make a positive impact in the world. 

- Pam Mulcahy

I’m thrilled to welcome our students back to start our 2024-2025 school year. We can’t wait to help them stretch beyond their wildest goals and achieve new heights. Your partnership is crucial in making this journey meaningful and successful.

Our commitment to community reflects our broader vision of developing the people the world needs most. Through thoughtful dialogue and active service, we live the values we wish to see our students embody long after their time at Holderness. We emphasize the belief that our shared humanity binds us, urging us to support and uplift one another.

Here’s to a year full of meaningful engagement and collective growth.

Sincerely, 

John McVeigh