Spirits Not Dampened as School Year Begins in Downpour

Head of School Larry Griffin's final year at Shore began memorably on September 7, Opening Day.

Early in the morning, cloudy but mostly dry weather had meant that returning students could share plentiful hugs and high-fives with faculty and staff at dropoff. Griffin had stood at the curb, as well, greeting both students new to the school and longtime Shore families with the same warm welcome. Many in Grades 6-9 carried sports equipment for Athletics tryouts later in the day, while younger children were accompanied by parents, grandparents, and even a well-mannered infant sibling or two as they made their way inside. New, brightly colored backpacks and shoes were everywhere, and the smiles of students and teachers alike were infectious.

Upper Schoolers soon raced to find friends and new locker and classroom locations, while Lower School students lingered in the Kiva inside the Center for Creativity to search for classmates old and new. But on this day all students, from the most experienced ninth grader to the youngest Pre-K child, shared the same nervous energy and the excitement of discovering the new faces, places, and routines that would quickly become the most familiar in the world.

Time for sharing summer stories and classroom introductions was short, however, because all were expected at the flagpole courtyard to participate in a Shore tradition. Having debated about the skies that morning and bet on the earlier dry weather holding, Griffin began the traditional flag-raising ceremony—signaling the official opening of the school year—just as a downpour surprised hundreds of students and their teachers and families who had gathered for the event. Determined not to let the weather dampen the spirits of an eager audience, the Head of School made it the subject of a joke.

Laughing, Griffin described one of Shore's great faculty and staff rituals—the annual presentation of an award to the person who had done the most foolish thing the previous school year—and pre-emptively claimed this year's award for himself. "Not postponing flag-raising this morning pretty much guarantees I've already won it," he said.

But in mercifully brief remarks Griffin called on the assembled not to let their spirits be dampened by short-lived rains or other disappointments. Instead, in his final year as Head of School, he vowed to join families in making kindness and, above all, fun the focus for the 2016-17 school year. At an institution justly renowned for the quality of its faculty and academic programs, Griffin's insistence on the importance of compassion, feeling, and simple joy made his remarks truly memorable.

They were also perfectly characteristic of Griffin's three-decade career as Shore's Head of School. As English teacher and past Upper School Head Walter Morris has said, "Larry's outstanding work with elementary and middle school children over the years is grounded ... perhaps most of all in his sense of humor. This last component has sustained him and therefore Shore for all of his 30 years as Head. Larry is very much in touch with his inner twelve year old—he delights in jokes, conversations, and interactions of all sorts with kids. Students know and appreciate when an adult is genuinely interested in them, and they sense Larry's sincere concern for their well being."

Echoing Morris, past Director of Admissions and Secondary School Counseling Lee Carey once wrote, "Larry taught us to look forward, remain optimistic, and always consider the best for children. ... Along the way, we learned to embrace the energy of change, and it gives us joy."

Griffin himself, in his annual letter to the Shore community, admitted, "I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world today—to have been given the honor to serve as Shore’s Head of School for three decades, surrounded by friends and colleagues focused on making the world a better place for children. ... Our time together is fleeting; let's make it fun!"

Celebrating joy and kindness—and indeed surrounded by friends, colleagues, and parents focused on creating a better world for children—Griffin rapidly brought the event to its close by introducing Shore's Chamber Ensemble, which performed "America the Beautiful." The crowd then departed to the warmth and safety of classrooms, cars, or Shore's Dining Hall. And with that remarkably short and sweet ceremony, the school year was officially underway.

Despite the rain, the pace of the 2016-17 school year was rapid from the start.

Many faculty members kicked off ambitious new units emphasizing outdoor education and design thinking, two areas of increasing focus at Shore. Students new to fifth grade and the Upper School quickly became accustomed to discussions around the Harkness table. The largest ninth grade class in years immediately made themselves at home in the Grade 9 lounge and formed close bonds in advance of their upcoming trip to Squam Lake. Lower Schoolers learned to care for the colorful fish that would live in the World Language Classroom this year - fish that only speak Spanish, according to new Lower School Spanish teacher Manny Brito. For the first time, Kindergarten children traveled to the Dining Hall for lunch, arriving for an early seating with food served family-style by teachers, teaching assistants, and volunteers. 

And, at Friday morning's all-school House Meeting, new Dean of Students Sean Melia introduced Head of School Larry Griffin, who announced that in the coming weeks, Shore will see visits from three candidates to become the new Head of School beginning in the 2017-18 year.