Spoiler alert: I am writing to you this morning between my day-to-day duties as Assistant Head of School and my newly added dance rehearsals. Our entire community has focused efforts this week on bringing Burgundy on Broadway (BOB) to the stage. Our sixth-graders are the stars of the show, their teachers and parents have supported them every step of the way, and the rest of our students enjoyed a preview of the show yesterday. Judging by the packed Loft, I know that many of those students brought their parents back to school for the debut of the full performance last night.

BOB is a fun musical revue and rite of passage, the first of their three Middle School performing arts productions. The 2014 theme is Heroes and Legends, and the class of 2016 took impressive initiative in shaping the characters, costumes, choreography, and more, fearlessly volunteering for solo acts, narratives, dance routines, and behind-the-scenes ventures. Director Cathy Manley and choreographers Adrienne Magnusson and Ryan Sellers helped each student stretch his or her performance limits with plenty of nurturing guidance. As a result, the students we see in one way in the classroom suddenly morph on stage, embracing various, and sometimes unexpected, roles with confidence and excitement.

When I reported to the Loft for my first dance rehearsal on Tuesday, a team of 6th Grade Wonder Women took pride in coaching me through the choreography and showing me the precision of each move. They had so clearly embraced the process of learning, which includes the important role of teaching and supporting one another. It's an honor to share the stage with them in that moment, and I'm so glad that they'll be able to share the experience with so many of their friends and family members.

I know they'll be just as excited to share their hard work with friends and family. The theme has inspired many discussions about their own superheroes, and I've heard many of the students reference their parents as heroes and role models. It's incredible to hear them articulate thoughts of such insight and gratitude, and for me, it also emphasizes how vital our parents are in the "triangular relationship" necessary among parents, teachers and students to facilitate the best learning possible. Hearing the students' words verified that parents' involvement provides a sense of commitment and support, and the kids feel that.

With that in mind, I thank all of our parents. Of course, I thank the parents who coordinated volunteer roles for BOB and rearranged personal schedules to make sure their sixth-graders could attend every afternoon and weekend rehearsal and went above and beyond in so many ways to ensure that BOB could be a positive experience for our students. But this kind of support is not unique to the 6th Grade parents; it is apparent within all of you, and it is part of what makes Burgundy such a great school.

Thank you for your partnership as we nurture lifelong learners and active citizens who are confident and courageous enough to follow their passions and make a difference. I look forward to seeing many of you at 7:30 this evening for the final performance of BOB in the Loft, where we will see a unique representation of the success of our partnership.