Derryfield families packed the Dennis Holland Competition Court in the Athletics and Wellness Center on Thursday, September 17, for the School’s annual Back to School Night, an evening that gives parents and guardians the chance to walk in their children’s shoes, following their schedules from class to class and meeting the teachers and advisors who work with them each day.
Head of School Andy Chappell opened the evening by reflecting on the energy of the first weeks of school. After 29 years in education, he said, September never loses its magic, “There is something special about the fresh start, the excitement of new classes, new activities, new friendships, and new possibilities.”
Chappell thanked Derryfield’s faculty and staff for their dedication before turning the podium over to two parent volunteer leaders.
Sarah Sirlin P’31, President of the Parent Faculty Association (PFA) and mother of a Derryfield eighth grader, shared how getting involved with the PFA during her daughter’s sixth-grade year helped her build community at a school that draws families from many different towns,
“I began attending the Parent Faculty Association
events during my daughter’s sixth-grade year and
immediately started getting to know other parents
and feeling connected to the school as a result.”
Sirlin outlined the many ways the PFA supports Derryfield throughout the year, from volunteering in the library and at Admission events to welcoming staff back each August and celebrating faculty during Teacher Appreciation Week. She also introduced this year’s class parents by grade and previewed upcoming community events, including a “Learn to Play Mahjong” night and casual parent coffees.
Dr. Karen Wu P’28, P’30, a Derryfield Trustee and parent of three (two current Derryfield students and one, “hoping to join the Class of 2033”), spoke about the impact of this event and her own family’s experience at the School,
“I have watched my daughters grow in this amazing and nurturing community. I’ve watched them become more confident, more curious, more independent, and more willing to take risks.”
The evening closed with parents dismissed to their children’s advisory groups, where the walk-in-their-shoes experience continued class by class. Chappell thanked families for their trust in choosing Derryfield, “Thank you for choosing to send your child to Derryfield. My colleagues and I do not take your choice for granted and we are grateful that you have chosen to partner with us during these consequential years of your child’s growth and development.
