August 5, 2021

Dear Friends,

Happy August! There are just a few weeks of summer left to enjoy, so we thank you for taking the time to read through all of the important back-to-school information that is included in this mailing. 

To be sure, this summer has been easier than the last in many ways. And while we have spent considerable time preparing for another school year that is sure to be impacted by COVID-19 to some extent (please see the updates in this mailing), I have had more time and space to think, plan, and dream about how we can provide the very best school experience for our students, faculty, and staff. There are so many wonderful things on the horizon and many that are already underway. We welcomed some excellent new staff members over the summer, and we are eagerly looking forward to completion of  the new playground and the makerspace in the Lower School. 

I am happy to say that I have also been able to find a bit more time to engage in some of the activities that make summer in Rhode Island so special. While we have apparently endured the third rainiest July on record, I have found a few moments to sit on the beach, go for long walks, and enjoy the bounty of the Edible Garden at Dwight House (all of the rain has certainly helped with that!). 

One of the great pleasures of summer for me has always been reading. I typically start the summer with a large stack of books that may or may not get read—but often my favorite reads are the unexpected books or articles that come my way. Last week, I happened to pick up my son’s assigned summer reading, This I Believe: The Personal Philosophy of Remarkable Men and Women, by Jay Allison. Our local NPR station has a weekly feature of the same title, and we have been lucky to hear several Lincoln faculty members read their essays over the years. I have loved making my way through the collection of essays that date back to the mid-1950s, and I am inspired by the words of everyday people and well-known figures, from Helen Keller to Anthony Fauci. 

One of the essays that has stuck with me is by Jody Williams, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, along with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the organization she co-founded. Williams starts her essay with, “I believe it is possible for ordinary people to achieve extraordinary things.” In this brief piece, she outlines some key factors to make this possible: teamwork with people from a diverse range of backgrounds and courage to learn and voice opinions—ideals that are very much in keeping with Lincoln School’s mission. In fact, many of the essayists in this collection  reflect the #boldminds we are hoping to cultivate at Lincoln. Ms. Williams also talked about “trying to do the right thing even when nobody else is looking.” This is a noble aspiration and something that I believe our students take to heart. To be sure, it is an element of lowliness, the often overlooked third ‘L’ of our school motto. 

I am excited about the school year ahead and continuing to learn, explore, and grow, as we live into our mission and values. While school may not be completely back to “normal,” there will be more opportunities to be together and celebrate the joy of community than we had last year. I look forward to sharing these moments with you. 

Onward together, 

Sophie Glenn Lau ’88
Head of School
 

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