From the Upper School: A Message to the Class of 2020

A special message from Upper School Head Neeltje Henneman
to the Class of 2020

Dear Class of 2020,

I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge this, your last official full week of Wheeler classes.

Of course, that means I also have to acknowledge that this is not the way we anticipated spending it — we wanted to spend it in person of course. We wanted to see you taking over the Courtyard and hear you being too loud in the Senior Room. But, as we all know, that’s not to be.

You and seniors all over this country are marking this moment in time over Zoom. While we aren’t all together, and this isn’t what we envisioned, lots of things are still the same. You are still the amazing, unique, powerful, funny, talented, and full-of-so-much-potential Wheeler Class of 2020. You are the same kids who started at Wheeler as long ago as when you were in Nursery and as recently as September. You are still the kids who have been the leaders of our teams, our clubs, our classrooms. You are still the kids who have been our role models and inspirations and you are still the kids who have meant so much to your teachers and to the Classes of 2021, 2022, and 2023.

You have made your mark — you continue to make your mark — on all things Wheeler. Think back to the Senior Retreat in September and remember the kind words and happy memories you shared with and about each other, with and about your teachers. Hold on to those and other memories that make up your Wheeler life. If we were on campus, there would be tears and there would be laughter this week. I suspect there will be tears and there will be laughter at home.

And I can promise you there will be celebration in the days and weeks to come. You deserve it! to the 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade students who are listening — if there’s a senior you have connected with, learned from, admired during your time at Wheeler — I encourage you to send them an email and let them know how much they meant to you!

If this situation has reminded us of anything,  it’s how much our connections matter! So, Class of 2020. We miss you, we care about you, and we will celebrate you!

Here’s to you — happy last week of classes — and here’s to lots more good stuff still to come.