Letter from the Head of School < < < < < < < < < < < < “If the truth be told, our school has benefitted greatly from our abiding respect for history and a close relationship with imagination.” Dear Cannon Community, In one sense, the State of the School message delivered on January 19 represented our version of a morality play. The wandering protagonist, played by a challenged Head of School, was met on that evening by the personifications of two powerful abstractions—History and Imagination. During the course of their visit, History and Imagination discuss their lengthy affiliation with our school, share with the audience their excitement over participation in a new set of plans, and depart with the promise to pay close attention to what will unfold at 5801 Poplar Tent Road. If the truth be told, the Head of School benefitted greatly from the descension of History and Imagination onto our campus. If the truth be told, our school has benefitted greatly from our abiding respect for history and a close relationship with imagination. In my mind, history and imagination merge together in their mutual interest in the question: “How can we do better?” Epochs in history often begin with someone believing things can be better and making an unwavering commitment to realizing that difference. History is literally made when individuals imagine in their hearts and minds a new possibility and outcome. The history of our school has been marked by volunteers, faculty, and staff who have had the vision to see things in the moment unseen and who have had the conviction to do the hard work to create a new reality. This spirit is alive and well on our campus in 2017. I encourage you to carve out some time to sit with this edition of Cannon Magazine and read about how this community is imagining tomorrow. Matthew E. Gossage, Head of School Sincerely, Visit www.cannonschool.org/webcast to watch the State of the School message Matt references in his letter. Learn how History, Imagination, and a group of current Cannon parents have come together to answer the question, “How can we do better?” 3 | WINTER 2017 | CANNON MAGAZINE