Dear Upper School Students & Parents, 

Happy Labor Day weekend! I am delighted to welcome this “unofficial” end of summer–especially if it means a respite from this heat! 

This week was a scorcher, but we certainly made the best of it in the Upper School! College Counselors worked with the 9th graders to help them master email literacy—teaching them about professional tone, proper formatting, and clear communication when reaching out to teachers and peers. These foundational communication skills help prepare our students for the future in their academic and professional endeavors. Additionally, Business Entrepreneurship students enjoyed a field trip to Crispy Chick (Thank you to Raj Patel–SDS Board Member & Lower School Parent–for hosting us!) and the entire division celebrated the start of College Football Season with College Colors Day today. 

Parents, I hope that you will be able to join us on Wednesday evening at 6:00 PM for our annual Back-to-School program. We will begin with a brief meeting in the Dent and then head to Presnell for an opportunity to experience your Upper Schooler’s A→G schedule. Parents will meet with their student’s Advisor(s) and then spend 10 minutes in each classroom. The evening will wrap up at 8:00 PM. 

Looking forward, here’s what’s on the horizon for the division: 

• Monday, September 7
  • No School: Labor Day
• Wednesday, September 9
  • Upper School Back-to School Night @ 6:00 PM in Dent
• Thursday, September 10
  • Parents’ Community Book Club @ 6:00 PM in Milliken Library
• Friday, September 11
  • I’m a Griffin Day/SDS’s Birthday
• Saturday, September 12
  • SAT Prep: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM in the Seminar Room
• Tuesday, September 15
  • Senior College Application Night @ 5:00 PM in the Seminar Room
• Wednesday, September 16
  • Junior Parent Coffee @ 8:00 AM in the Seminar Room
• Saturday, September 19
  • SAT Prep: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM in the Seminar Room
• Monday, September 21-Friday, September 25
  • Homecoming Week (More details coming soon!)
• Saturday, September 26
  • Homecoming Dance from 8:00-10:00 PM in the Dent

Fall sports are in full swing–please keep an eye on your email and the team calendars for the most up-to-date information. I’m also pleased to share that various college representatives will begin visiting campus next week! Demonstrated interest is an important metric in the college admissions process, so students should be sure to connect with representatives of interest when possible. 

Stay tuned in the next few weeks for information regarding this year’s Special Studies offerings and the sign-up process. Remember–Special Studies is now the last week in January (January 25-29, 2027) and will include supplemental lessons throughout the school year that will ultimately earn academic credit. We are so excited about this Learning Lived experience and can’t wait to share more with you!

Wishing you a restful and relaxing weekend, 

Jenny Glenn
Head of Upper School