I love this time of the school year. All of the signs that spring has arrived in the Middle School are present. The sun is coming up as I’m getting to work, the students have begun following the Fourth Quarter Schedule, the Class of 2024 has returned from Guilin and has begun graduation rehearsals, and the Class of 2025 is looking forward to their May trip to Taiwan. Overall everything is just a little more upbeat on campus these days.

Keeping the kids focused on learning until June can be a challenge, and while I sincerely hope the eighth grade enjoys their last seven weeks as Firedragons, we need to be vigilant that they pay attention in their classes, especially Algebra I!

One more delightful aspect about this time of year is that our eighth grade has successfully completed the high school admission process, and all of them know which school will be their home next fall. The Class of 2024 will be attending a list of college preparatory programs as strong as any CAIS class in the last decade. Here is where the class will be going next year:

Branson School 1
College Preparatory School 2
Convent/Stuart Hall 2
Hawai’i Preparatory Academy 1
International High School 1
Lick Wilmerding High School 5
Lowell High School 2
Menlo School 1
Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep 4
Saint Ignatius High School 1
The Stevenson School 1
Thacher School 1
University High School 2
Urban School 10

I am immensely proud of these soon-to-be graduates and eager to hear about their experiences at these fantastic destinations when they return as alumni next year at our annual reunion!