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A note from the newly appointed Head of Schools, Jon McGill
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Dear Parents:
I hope the onset of January finds you all in good health and with optimism for
the future. I wanted to take this early opportunity to introduce myself in my
role as the Head of School at the Henderson International School. I am excited
about the future of the School, delighted to be here and enthusiastic as I
prepare to support your sons and daughters as they grow and develop.
The role of a Head of School these days can be complex but, at its heart, the
task is straightforward if not simple: to support the parents, teachers, staff
and students as they journey through learning. That journey includes social and
emotional development, character formation, intellectual substance and strength
and, of course, preparation for living in a connected, complicated and global
environment.
Research tells us that many of our children will have six or seven jobs, two or
three different careers and potentially live in several countries before their
work lives are completed. They will encounter challenges that our generations
have yet to solve; they will need skills and abilities foreign to many people
my age. They will have to appreciate different cultures, contexts and
communities as they find places where they feel comfortable and successful. As
educators, our task is to help them prepare for this adventure!
I believe very strongly in what Meritas is trying to accomplish with its family
of schools. Character education, with an emphasis on learning how to live with
honor, integrity and purpose, is at the heart of the Henderson, and the Meritas
mission. I believe that the pre-condition for learning is the building of
relationships, especially those that develop between children and their
teachers, advisors and coaches. Without genuine strong relationships, there is
little chance of successful learning taking place. Here at Henderson we will
work to ensure that the quality of relationships between adults and the
students is the pre-eminent goal, the indispensable condition on which we will
build a strong and successful school community. We intend that Henderson
International School will, in the very near future, be the finest school in the
region. That will take hard work and visionary insights. My commitment to you
is to do the very best that I can to help provide an education for your
children of which they, and you, can be proud.
As the following months unfold, I hope to get to know you and, of course, to
know your child, or children if you have more than one here at THIS. I hope you
will feel free to introduce yourself to me as you are on campus, to drop by my
office or simply to send an e-mail greeting. I have a steep learning curve to
engage with as I follow on from my colleague Rod Kehl but my commitment is to
grapple with it early and often.
I look forward to seeing you on campus in the near future!
