Head of School Blog

Calling Out Through the Dark

November 3, 2024

Last year at graduation, I advised the soon-to-be alums to make themselves a happy playlist, one that they could turn to on a bad day or when they needed a little joy. I wanted to be one among many voices that reiterated the importance of celebrating the good, even when times are tough.  Lately, I…

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Bridging Divides

October 7, 2024

As everyone seems to be fond of saying, these are complicated times, and there is apprehension and anxiety in the air. As you read that first sentence, you might have been imagining several situations that apply for you—an upcoming transition, or event, or conversation. When I was in college, my favorite classes involved debate and…

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Measuring Change

September 13, 2024

I grew up spending time in the Adirondack mountains of upstate New York. The mountains are almost like family to me, and that area more than any other is what I think of as home. Mountain climbing in the Adirondacks is hard. Some of the hikes are very long, and typically you are in the…

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There’s Nothing Like a Book

June 3, 2024

Head of School Sarah Pelmas One of the most reliable characteristics of a Winsor student is that they love the library. In fact, it’s not only Winsor students, and it’s not limited to our beautiful Virginia Wing Library. The Winsor community is full of people who adore libraries—for the possibilities, for the undiscovered worlds available…

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The Season of Celebrations The Winsor School

May 7, 2024

Head of School Sarah Pelmas “Winsor loves a good celebration, and April kicks off our season of celebrations in earnest. We have already celebrated Ring Day, Prom, Party with a Purpose, the yearbook dedication, the Class VI banner presentation to the seniors, the Class V party for the seniors’ last day of classes, and of…

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Unintended Consequences

April 7, 2024

Head of School Sarah Pelmas At my dinner table the other night, we were talking about ecological unintended consequences, and in particular about tropical coral reefs. Scientists have observed that tropical coral reefs near islands with sea birds living on them grow more rapidly and recover more quickly from bleaching events than coral reefs near…

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