From the Alumnae Association

A few Saturdays ago, October 5, 2013, the Alumnae Board along with the Admissions team held for the second consecutive year the workshop Demystifying the Admissions Process and Understanding Financial Aid. This event was the product of many conversations during Alumnae Board meetings about the importance of making a Holton education possible for as many alumnae daughters as possible.

As a member of the Alumnae Board several years ago, I had the opportunity to take a tour of Holton. It had been a long time since I had been back on campus and I came away from my visit excited about the changes that had been made to the school and also happy about the many things that have stayed the same.

I remember leaving Holton that day and thinking that although my own daughter, Miranda, was only a toddler at the time and I couldn’t predict the future for her, it really was pretty special that a place like Holton exists for any girls to attend.

Flash forward a few years as Miranda begins the admissions process for the class of 2023. She willingly did the testing, class visits and had lots of conversations about going to a new school. But I must admit that she was not thrilled with the notion of changing schools and leaving the friends and routine that she was very happy with. Once she had been accepted and we accepted back, Miranda continued to express her misgivings about going to a new school.

In the late spring there was an evening gathering for the incoming parents of Third Graders—a chance to meet and greet. As I mingled around the room and introduced myself, I kept hearing the same ice breaker question: “Is your daughter excited about coming to Holton?” Every other parent seemed to easily reply “Yes.” Unfortunately, I couldn't honestly say that Miranda was looking forward to starting Holton in the fall.

But September came and Miranda put on a plaid jumper for the first time and off she went to school. It was very clear to me and her father from even the first day that things were going well for her and that she was happy. But my mind was really put at ease when three weeks into the school year, on an otherwise non-memorable drive in the car, Miranda said, “ Mom, can I tell you something?”

I replied of course and held my breath. “Mom, this summer I really didn't want to come to school at Holton. But I just wanted you to know that I'm so happy that I go there now and that you were right.” That’s music to any parent’s ears and way out of character, if you know Miranda at all.

She has truly loved every minute of every day of this new school year. She gets excited when she sees it is “C” day because she has science. She gets excited when it is “F” day because she has art. When I asked her to give me some of the names of her new friends, she listed all 14 girls in her class. She retold every bit of information Susanna Jones shared with the third-grade in a gathering about Holton’s history.

Miranda has gotten off to an excellent start-- loves her teachers (many of whom I actually had myself); has made a roomful of new friends; can't speak highly enough about the new cafeteria food; has found an affinity for the cello; and even invited me to join her for lunch one day in the cafeteria (with strict instructions about my behavior). 

Her only complaint as we near the Thanksgiving break: Who decided the uniform would be plaid?!