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The structure of a traditional journey in a child’s education often leaves us looking at what stop is next to reach the desired final destination. As a secondary school placement director, I know this better than most. Every day, I speak with parents and students about their vision for secondary school as they prepare to graduate from Far Hills and begin heading towards what’s next. During this time, there is an emphasis on listening to both the parent’s and child's needs to achieve the ultimate goal: traveling to that next destination with ease, a level of calmness and minimal stress, and arriving there with confidence. While it is normal to look at the future, it is also important to embrace where you are right now at this current moment in time. Allow yourself and your child(ren) to enjoy the ride.
Like many big decisions in our lives, the secondary school process takes many hours of hard work and planning. But in the end, we can let our held breath out, release the stress and tension, and celebrate together with an exchange of high fives and cheers as the students continue to demonstrate success in their achievements.
As many of you may know, the outlined final destination of your time at Far Hills is the crossing of the bridge at graduation. The journey to the bridge is an amazing experience. Looking back on the years preceding middle school, one can point to all of the ingredients that led to the graduation stage. The journey includes plenty of signature moments in the classroom. In a typical year, rarely a week goes by without student curiosity on display. In the last few weeks, we celebrated our Grade 1 students’ play, our Grade 2 students' Coming to America Signature Project presentation, and our Grade 3 students’ Adventure America Signature Project presentation. Talent shows, performances, adventure trips, and athletic contests all highlight the Far Hills experience. Our students have so many wonderful adventures, and they do it all with inspirational and supportive teachers (huge high five to my colleagues).
All of this is to say, when the Far Hills student walks across the stage on graduation day, he or she is confidently prepared to embrace the opportunities and challenges of the future. There’s just something about a Far Hills graduate that is more than meets the eye and reaches far beyond a simple handshake. Our graduates combine grace with grit and even a touch of resilience. They have a love of learning and a strong set of character skills; service to the community is something that is also hardwired into them along the way. This is the end of a successful and life-shaping journey at our school. And although the journey feels long, in fact, the voyage from Kindergarten to graduation really just takes the blink of an eye.
The Class of 2022 searched far and wide to find a “fit” for secondary school, with a lot of mileage put on cars in the process. Collectively, this Grade 8 class applied to just shy of 60 different schools traveling as far north as New Hampshire and as far south as Virginia. Sixteen members of the class will be at boarding school come September; the remaining 25 students will spread out in the schools in our area. Check out the matriculation list below:
Beginning next month, we begin to celebrate the Class of 2022 formally.
- On June 8, we present academic awards to our soon-to-be graduates as part of our annual Green & White Dinner held at the Ryland Inn (Grade 8 parents: If you haven't already RSVP’d, please do so via the Paperless Post sent via email).
- On June 10, we host the ninety-second annual Graduation in the Far Hills Performing Arts Center.
For the Class of 2022, the end is near. In less than a month, our Grade 8 students will cross over the bridge one last time and join the ranks of our alumni. While this provides many emotions for all involved, know that your child(ren) have the tools, confidence, skillset, dedication, and drive to soar into this next chapter. They are ready, and so are we! My colleagues and I couldn’t be more proud of this outstanding class. Congratulations!
Here's to the Class of 2022,
Ed Thompson