Our Wildwood, Volume 51

DEAR FRIENDS A Letter from Landis

The class of 2024 was three times the size of Corey’s class and included many graduates who began their time at Wildwood as elementary students. Campus connections is the theme of this issue, and among this year’s impressive commencement speakers was Mia Rios ‘24. Seemingly effortlessly, Mia—a Wildwood “lifer”—likened her class to one of the playlists she loves to create. Of her peers, she said: “Each of us brings a unique perspective, emotion, and personality to the mix. Some of us may be similar to others, but there is always something that sets us apart. Our strength lies in our differences. We mesh together to become the comforting and cozy playlist for a rainy day, the uplifting and lighthearted one for summer, the quiet and motivating one for hard work, and the predictable one for every day listening.” Some of the relationships on which Mia reflected began in kindergarten, others in middle and upper school. She went on to say, “The beauty of our playlist is that it is diverse in a way that is forever changing.” Mia’s got it right. Things change, evolve, grow. People change, evolve, grow. That’s why it’s important to pause and reflect, to thoughtfully plan and incorporate new understandings, new people, and new ideas along the way. That’s what this wonderful endeavor called Wildwood School is all about.

Arriving at Wildwood School in 2007, it felt like I was joining a movement. It still feels that way. But any article— almost every article, really—about the future of education in the United States points to the work to which my colleagues and I have committed our professional lives. Wildwood School is the future of education. And yet, as we envision the future, we must stay grounded in the past, serving children and their families in the present. That’s what we do. We do it by reflecting on our work as professionals, exactly as we teach our children and young adults to reflect on their work as students. What went well? How could I have done better, or done something differently? What was my impact on others, and how does that match my intention? How are others impacting me, and what can I learn from them? Anyone who’s ever attended a student-involved or student-led conference, a Gateway or a Senior Exhibition, knows that in pursuit of our mission to, “cultivate reflective scholars, bold innovators, and compassionate leaders…” students are consistently guided to look back and plan forward based on feedback they’ve received and how they’ve come to understand themselves, how they learn, and what’s important to them—all with pride in what they do well and without shame for what they haven’t mastered yet. That’s consistent with how we approach our reflection and planning as an institution, as well. In a last act of refection that honors a 20-year tradition, some Wildwood seniors chose to speak at commencement. Included in the faculty seating area at this year’s ceremony was upper school teacher Corey Fetzer ‘04, a member of our first graduating class.

With warm regards,

Landis Green Head of School

OWW SUMMER 2024

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