This past weekend I was in Maine for a wedding, and we spent an afternoon popping in and out of small-town mom-and-pop stores hawking toys, souvenirs, coffee, and books. While I was perusing one bookstore, I checked my email and saw a message from Mr. Peasley, English department chair, reminding our department to submit our book lists to the School Store for our fall classes. It was a reminder that we are right around the corner from another school year, even as our summer programs are in full swing.

And it has been a successful summer. Thanks in large part to our program directors, their teams, and many of our administrators, over a thousand students will attend camps on our campus by the time the summer concludes. This year, that includes almost 20 students in our new Ignite camp designed to introduce rising 7-9th graders to the STEM opportunities we have for students at Shattuck. 

None of this would be possible without an extraordinary team of people to make it happen. From Robert Brown and the food service team who serve more meals some weeks during the summer than during the school year, to Tim Cox and his buildings and grounds crew who fix problems and ensure the beauty of our campus. Of course, there is Cale Politoski and our Putrah Sports Complex staff maintaining ice and a clean, welcoming environment, and there are nurses and drivers and dozens of student counselors who make every camper's experience as smooth as possible. 

Coordinating everything behind the scenes (and often right in the scene itself!) is Amy Cox, who oversees all the camps from budgets to enrollment, from linens to ensuring smiles and laughter. And, as the summer session wraps for another year, Amy will help manage the transition back to our school year rhythm and begin working on next summer almost without pause. It is great we have a village, because it takes a village to make it all happen.

These summer programs are amazing opportunities for students from around the country and the globe to experience Shattuck. They are also essential to our successful operations each year. So, as we are just weeks away from opening meetings and students returning to campus, let’s take a moment to celebrate the team this summer. This place wouldn’t be all that it is without them. 

Thanks, team. Shattuck on three!