The Back-to-School Bulletin
A LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear LFCDS Families,
What a joyful way to begin the 2026-2027 school year.
Yesterday morning, our students, faculty, and staff gathered for Opening Convocation, a cherished LFCDS tradition that brings our community together to mark the start of a new year. Centered around our annual theme, "Adventure Is Out There!", the assembly celebrated curiosity, friendship, belonging, and the exciting journey that awaits us in the months ahead.
Students helped lead every aspect of the program, from welcoming new faculty and staff and sorting new students into Houses to reciting our mission and introducing our core beliefs through a creative, collaborative challenge. The energy, enthusiasm, and sense of community were evident throughout the morning.
I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Ms. Tatz, whose vision, creativity, and countless hours of planning made yesterday's convocation such a meaningful experience for our students. The assembly beautifully reflected the joy, imagination, and sense of purpose that define an LFCDS education, and we are fortunate to have her leadership in bringing these traditions to life.
I would also like to thank our eighth-grade leaders, especially Bo Barry and Louise Neighbours, for serving as our convocation emcees. With confidence, humor, and poise, they guided the community through the morning's program and helped set a welcoming and joyful tone for the year ahead. Their leadership exemplified what we hope all LFCDS students carry forward as they grow through their own educational journeys. I am equally grateful to our fourth graders, who courageously embraced their role as leaders of the Lower School by coming to the stage and reciting our mission, complete with adventure scout costumes and hand gestures, before the entire school community. Their confidence, preparation, and enthusiasm were inspiring reminders that leadership at LFCDS begins long before students reach the upper grades.
Watching our students lead reminded me of a lesson I shared during my remarks: meaningful leadership is not about standing above others, but about inviting others along on the journey. Few people embody that lesson more fully than the late Dolly Parton.
While many know her as a legendary performer and songwriter, her story offers lessons that resonate deeply with the values we seek to cultivate in our students.
Born as one of twelve children and raised in a one-room cabin in rural eastern Tennessee, Dolly Parton's journey to becoming a global cultural icon is a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished through talent, determination, humility, and an unwavering commitment to others. Throughout her career, she has consistently invited people to join her on her journey rather than advancing at the expense of others. Even when faced with criticism or ridicule, she has modeled resilience, kindness, intelligence, and grace, choosing the high road and setting an example through both her words and actions.
Her life and work connect in meaningful ways to each of our school's four core beliefs.
Childhood Is Championed. Through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, she has helped provide millions of free books to children around the world, championing literacy and ensuring that young people have access to the gift of reading. Inspired in part by her father's inability to read, she transformed a personal family experience into a lasting commitment to children everywhere.
Community Is Our Core. Dolly has never forgotten the communities that shaped her. From her charitable work in eastern Tennessee to her support of educational, health care, and disaster relief initiatives, she has consistently given back. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her philanthropic support helped accelerate critical medical research at Vanderbilt University, and the production of one of the two vaccines.
Curiosity Is a Gift. Dolly's creative genius is well known. Remarkably, she wrote both Jolene and I Will Always Love You on the same day in 1973, and both became iconic songs. Her willingness to create, experiment, and pursue new ideas has inspired generations of artists and audiences alike. The fact that artists ranging from Elvis Presley and Whitney Houston to Céline Dion and Alanis Morissette have been inspired by or performed her music speaks to the enduring impact of her creativity.
We Aim High. Dolly Parton embodies this belief through the way she has approached every chapter of her life. She is not only an accomplished musician but also a philanthropist, entrepreneur, literacy advocate, and community builder. She continually expanded her impact while remaining grounded in gratitude, generosity, and purpose.
As I shared with students this morning, success is not simply about personal achievement. It is about using one's gifts to lift others, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for those who follow. Dolly Parton's life reminds us that ambition and humility can coexist, that kindness and excellence are not mutually exclusive, and that meaningful success is measured not only by what we accomplish, but by how we treat others along the way.
As we begin this new school year, I am filled with gratitude to have your children back on campus and under our care. Already, there is a palpable sense of excitement, optimism, and possibility across our classrooms and hallways. If yesterday’s convocation was any indication, we are off to an exceptional start.
Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and your shared commitment to our mission. We look forward to a wonderful year of learning, growth, discovery, and adventure together.
Warmly,
John
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