 Each year at opening meetings, a day or two before students descend on campus to begin the new academic year, I like to give our full group of faculty and staff a fun little “BB&N 101” Quiz to shake off the cobwebs.
One of my favorite questions from this year’s meeting was: Which of the following areas represent records set during the 2009-10 Annual Fund year?
When I read the answer, ALL OF THEM!, a cheer erupted in the auditorium. I hope that each of you reading this report is cheering, too, in your own way. This is big stuff.
As we all know, these past two years have been marked by economic uncertainty worldwide. The fact that the records noted above, in addition to the ongoing steadfast support of the Opening Minds Campaign, occurred amidst this sort of economic climate is a stunning commentary on your inspirational support of this School.
The importance of this level of support is, I think, never more apparent or more welcome than during economically tenuous times. Because, just as our faculty and coaches offer BB&N’s nearly 1,000 students a rock-solid foundation during times of anxiety, so too does your support provide a tremendous uplift to BB&N, its people, and its teaching mission.
I know our Board officers will discuss in this Report the fine points of what your contributions mean—to the growth of BB&N’s endowment, to our ability to remain competitive with financial aid and faculty compensation, and to the stability and sustainability of our financial footing. We’ve even been able to stay on track with improving our facilities (this summer’s highlights being a new science lab at the Upper School and a new playground for our Beginners students), so that our students continue to receive everything they need to flourish and grow.
Indeed, BB&N’s most important accomplishment remains our uncompromising dedication, our fierce commitment, to fostering that very growth. Looking back on the 2009-10 year, the growth of our students was on blazing display across all three of our campuses—especially in the way that they forged and maintained connections, both academically and intrinsically, to the worlds and communities in which they live and visit.
Some highlights that come to mind are:
Just recently, I observed a prospective student who was being given a tour of BB&N courtesy of one of our seniors. Seeing through our visitor’s eyes, I was reminded vividly of what you’ve helped make possible every year with your unflagging loyalty and generosity—a School bubbling with energy, with ideas, with students and teachers who are engaged and excited and committed to each other’s growth.
For that support, I and every one of us here at BB&N thank you deeply.
Rebecca T. Upham Head of School |
BB&N’s Annual Fund Nearing its Close!
“As parents we’ve never experienced a school such as BB&N in which everyone at the School gets to know your child as an individual. The people at BB&N have a genuine heartfelt commitment to the success of your child. It’s unique!”
BB&N Parent,
Class of 2007, 2013