First Month in Five Words

When the Yearbook staff invited community members to capture their first month in five words, their responses created a colorful portrait of Sanford life already in motion. For Samantha Lenz ’30, it was “fun, exciting, interesting, inspiring, alive,” while for Gracie Burroughs ’28, it was “inclusive, eventful, easy, smooth, memorable.” Kylie Pienkos-Chong ’27 is new to Sanford this year and reported that “everyone has been so welcoming!” Some students focused on forging friendships: Rosie Brown ’38 “made new friends and had fun.” Others, like Brie Wilson ’26, cherished returning connections, sharing that it was “good to see [her] friends” back on campus after summer break. And Kai Parikh ’29 summed up the start of the year simply: “It was literally awesome sauce.”

Lower School instructor Kate Brower captured the spark of the first month with her five words: “energetic, exciting, new, inspiring, fresh.” New Upper School teacher Chris Hupfeldt highlighted the sense of belonging with words like “welcoming, supporting, energetic, camaraderie, and close-knit.” Head of School Jaime Morgan ‘02 described her month as “joyful, fun, smooth, exciting, and goal-setting,” Middle School instructor Caitlin Powderly used words like “energetic, whirlwind, personable, friendly, and productive” to describe hers. For Performing Arts Department Chair Jeff  Molush, it was “exciting, exhausting, happy, warm, fuzzy.” History Department Co-Chair Alexander Levine confessed that he is already “rushing to make the most” of every day, and Latin teacher Mrs. Wolanski perhaps captured the return-to-school adjustment best: “not much sleep, but yay!”

Many responses captured the swirl of emotions that come with change. Anjali Viswanathan ’26 described the start of senior year as “independent, new, nostalgic, and sentimental,” balancing reflection with a sense of hope for what’s ahead. New Upper School history instructor Gretchen Young admitted it was “exciting and fun, but chaotic,” and KJ Johnson ‘29 was also on the emotional rollercoaster, sharing that it was “awesome, fun, interesting, scary, and nerve-racking.” For Alex Asher ‘27, “junior year is so dope,” while Vicky Velasquez ‘26 voiced what many students likely felt during those first early mornings: “I miss being in bed.”

Together, these voices highlight the spirit of our community as one that is warm, supportive, and lively. And while the start of a new year can feel overwhelming, campus is always buzzing with connection and possibility. Senior Class President Abby Krape ‘26 is energized by “forming new connections and bonds,” and Mrs. Burke Parcha looks forward to another year of “creating meaningful memories each day.”

As we step into a school year guided by the theme Our Voices, the opening weeks have already shown the strength of those voices. In just a few days, our community has proven itself to be both playful and thoughtful, both inspired and inspiring. If these first five words are any clue, the chapters ahead will be rich with creativity, connection, and growth.

Across campus, the words repeated most often were fun, new, exciting, interesting, and happy, and the yearbook staff wishes students, faculty, and families a school year that reflects each of them. And with so much joy on campus, it’s easy to agree with Upper School instructor Mr. Maley: “It’s great to be back.”