Opening the Door
Kate Olson, Director of Alumni and Development
In eight weeks, I'll cross Grad Green with our faculty and nine seniors, three of whom have attended Leelanau for all four years. Seniors Sara, Sophie, Nathaniel, and I entered Leelanau in the early fall of 2020 when the pandemic rearranged our lives and threw schools into chaos. Gratefully, Leelanau took the brave steps to gather in person while most schools remained online. We were all operating without a map, anxious, masked, and standing six feet apart from one another when we weren't in quarantine. Faculty and students ate outdoors or in separate rooms. We wiped down desks, door knobs, and pens between classes, limited class size to six, and worked conscientiously to protect our Leelanau bubble. We based new relationships on expressive eyes and body language since our smiles (or grimaces) remained mysteriously masked. It was a new world for the four of us and strange territory for all.
Yet, somehow, our small band of newbies found fast friends and fellowship among the extraordinary group of Leelanau humans we joined on campus. Despite nine months of 24/7 social distancing, we found belonging as part of this community and uncovered new insights, personal strengths, courage, and resilience.
When our seniors receive their diplomas on June 1st, they will celebrate with a broad audience of family, friends, and special guests. This was impossible for the class of 2020, who graduated online, and our 2021 and 2022 graduates, who invited immediate family only. While the virus continues, and no community is entirely protected, the doors of Leelanau are opening wide again - ready to welcome extended family and new friends to the beautiful banks of the Crystal River.
In the months ahead, the Alumni and Development office will focus on this message of opening doors. Those familiar with Leelanau understand our commitment to a welcoming community and this sense of belonging. We know what it is like to bond with these interesting, intelligent, and inspiring humans in the classroom and beyond. Nobody attends Leelanau to pass a test or take home a diploma. Instead, we gather to get to the real heart of education. We are here to discover a life and a passion for learning.
Leelanau's new strategic plan*, which emerged from our recent self-study and ISACS reaccreditation review, focuses on these messages of opportunity, accessibility, growth, and community. We will be sharing more about this in the weeks to come. In short, we seek to deepen what we know, strengthen our work and resources, and make Leelanau more accessible to others.
All of these goals require financial support. We ask that you engage with us as you are able. We've spelled out five ways to participate below. Find a way to help that fits your personal connection and dreams for The Leelanau School community. As we approach our 100th anniversary, it is exciting to look forward as well as back.
The Leelanau School has always been ahead of its time. Let's let this secret out by opening our doors wider!
Most Sincerely,
Kate Olson
Director of Alumni and Development
231.334.5841 or kolson@leelanau.org
* Review our strategic plan at leelanau.org/strategic-plan
