Welcome back!

Judging from the smiles on the faces of 560-odd Greenhills students surging into the school’s theater Tuesday morning, it was hard to tell whether it was the first day of school or the last.

But first day of school it was, and by the time Head of School Carl Pelofsky was finished addressing the group, the students—especially the 121 students who are new to Greenhills—were well on their way to an academic year full of thoughtful growth.

Pelofsky used a famous poem from World War II—Randall Jarrell’s “The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner”—to spur a discussion that ranged from the humorous to the profound. For the new students, a warm welcome from faculty and students alike ensured they felt comfortable in their new school home.

Head of Upper School Cathy Renaud and Head of Middle School Jonathan Schwartz also took the microphone, as did senior Allie Chatas, this year’s student council president.

After the brief assembly adjourned, students gathered in their forums for class meetings. And after that, it was off to the first classes of what promises to be a fruitful and eventful year.