Finding Family at Marvelwood

THE MARVELWOOD SCHOOL MAGAZINE

FALL 2019

The Value of Family

BY HEAD OF SCHOOL BLYTHE EVERETT P’14, ’16

I come from a small family. Growing up, there were five of us in my house, and my extended family numbered fewer than ten. The intimacy was at the same time comforting yet limiting; there were definitely times when I felt that maybe I was missing something important or formative, without great big boisterous holiday gatherings or sprawling family reunions covering multiple generations. Having just two children of my own and living far from my family members hasn’t done much to alter that feeling in recent years.

But early every September, as it has for the last 29 years, my family grows exponentially. The doors of my home open wide to happily welcome back those I know and to warmly receive new members I’m eager to meet for the first time. Amid hugs and highfives and comments about how much people have grown, the place fills with the sounds of reconnecting and glows with the warmth of shared memories—a light bright enough to banish uncertainty, nervousness, fear, and even loneliness. Who can be lonely in a family such as mine?

“Family” at Marvelwood takes many forms. It’s both a philosophy and a feeling—one that visitors repeatedly say is evident across campus. Intentionally sized to facilitate close connections, our School takes pride in the purposeful planning of academic, extracurricular, residential, and social initiatives that promote open communication, foster meaningful relationships and provide a true sense of belonging. Here, students become part of many distinct families: their advisory group, their classes, their dormitory, their grade level, their team, their cast…and their House. The Pterodactyl Cup spirit program, introduced last year, sorts adults and students into four Houses, named for the four longest-serving members of our current faculty: Doss, Sanchez, West, and Everett. Each House has its own color, its own song, its own crest, and its own identity. Within 24 hours of their arrival on campus this year, our new students had been sorted and embraced by their new

House families. The same happened with more members of our extended family—our alumni— to kick off a fabulous Reunion weekend in June. The House Cup program is a fantastic recipe for “instant family,” linking Cornwall to Kent, alumni to students, and students to faculty, staff, and each other. It’s also a manifestation of our tenacious commitment to the belief that connection plays a fundamental role at Marvelwood, fueling each student’s growth, engagement and confidence and setting the stage for a lifetime of success. You will quite literally find family everywhere at Marvelwood. This year, we count a brother and sister, a father and son, an uncle and nephew, a mother and son, and several husbands and wives among our employees. Three alumni work as teachers or administrators at the School. There are nine families with children as young as 18 months.

“A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it.”

— George Moore

My husband and I are immensely grateful for having had the opportunity to raise our children here. My kids will tell you that they loved growing up on campus; they were involved in activities here from a young age and had made friends well before they eagerly joined our student body. They benefited from a unique 18-year extended-family experience that gave them an invaluable sense of confidence, perspective, and true belonging to an appreciably diverse global community. Over the last five years, more than 20 children of faculty and staff have attended Marvelwood; With fellow Pterodcatyl Cup House heads eight are currently enrolled, and the next wave is already plugged in and eager to follow in their care and tend, applaud, reaffirm, respond, forgive, celebrate, footsteps. recognize, guide, hope, and love.

For a small school, Marvelwood boasts a big extended family. No offense to Thomas Wolfe, but you can go home again. Family is always welcome.