Message from the Head

In September of 2004, I wrote an article in which I talked about our son Judd and how we had 1460 days left with him before he left home for college. High school has come and on Tuesday, June 10, at approximately 8:30 p.m., high school has gone. It is over. For Judd it was a passage full of new learning experiences, some good, some difficult. It was a time of exploration and discovering himself, of developing into a fine young man ready for whatever tomorrow may bring.

His senior year saw him captain of the soccer team to the best season in the last decade. His passion for psychology and writing were cemented by fine teachers who appreciated his sense of humor and his true sense of fairness. He wants to make a difference and we believe he will.

In a few weeks, he leaves us for Xavier University in Cincinnati. Sandwiched around his sister Kim’s wedding on August 23, he will arrive at college the day after and his new passage begins. This will be the first time in 32 years that Wendy and I will be without a child in the house.

Those 1460 days went by in a wink of an eye. SAT’s, college visits, proms, term papers seem like a blur. Where did the time go? We enjoyed him so much. Beyond the moods, the messy room, the new dog, a great connection was built - a connection that will always be there, for him and for us. Who knows what is in store for our family. We feel that our children are our greatest accomplishments.

That is my message for all of you. Your children are your greatest accomplishments. Cherish every moment. Soak up every experience. Being a parent is getting tougher and tougher. Be strong, be fair, and say no (at least sometimes).

Most of you have more than 1460 days remaining with your children. Those of you with Early School children, I envy you. At the same time I offer the Academy as a resource to help you navigate through the years ahead. Make no mistake - they will zoom by in an instant. Before you know it, the kindergarten celebration turns into eighth grade graduation, which turns into high school graduation, and so on.XPlease find the time to discover the joy of your children over and over again. We were so lucky Judd came to the Academy. Many of his closest friends are GPA students who went on to different high schools, but stayed in touch. You may have seen the ad in the Grosse Pointe News honoring our 2008 and 2004 graduates. Judd’s friends are going off to universities and colleges all over the country: University of Michigan, Stanford, Harvard, Boston College, New York University, Notre Dame, Yale, Carnegie Mellon, Loyola of Chicago, Ohio Wesleyan, Oberlin and, yes, Xavier, to name a few.

The Academy is proud of all of its graduates. We are proud of the connections we make with each and every one. We look forward to sharing the successes of our future graduates. In the meantime, until your 1460 days are up, cherish every moment, every connection, every laugh and every tear. Your children need your strength, wisdom and love. The results are priceless.