Welcome to Grandparents and Special Friends Day. My name is Betty Noel-Pierre, and in July my family arrived here in Palo Alto as I became Castilleja’s 8th Head of School. To share a little about my own background, I attended girls’ school in New York City from Kindergarten through 12th grade, and my grandparents were a huge part of my life all of those years—growing up I would speak to my grandmother almost everyday soaking in her guidance and wisdom even when I didn’t always appreciate it. My grandfather was there as well, a steady presence full of intellectual curiosity and encouragement.
My family has been in New York City for five generations, and to call us close might be an understatement. We are a big group, spanning all ages. We see each other often, and when we don’t we keep close tabs on each other. All that said, it sent a bit of a tremor through the family when people heard I was taking a job at a school I fell in love with in California of all places. There were some aunts and uncles, and even my own children, who were not sure I was thinking through the implications of it all. And while they were proud of this accomplishment the distance was unsettling.
Even I had doubts, especially because there were so many people I had loved and had supported me for my entire life in New York City. But it won’t be lost on anyone here that it was my grandfather who really encouraged me to take this leap of faith and embrace a brave adventure. At a family gathering, perhaps he could read my mind and see that I was doing the math and feeling the feelings and starting to wonder about whether leaving all that could be the right choice, and he pulled me aside and reassured me in all of the ways I needed. He told me he was proud of me, that he admired me, and that my great-grandmother would never have imagined that her hard work and sacrifice could lead to this moment. In essence, he did something that he had been doing for me all of my life—he gave me the courage to take a risk. At one point it was taking an honors-level class in high school. Then it was pursuing an ambitious path in college. Then it was moving on to get my doctorate. And as my leadership roles have grown in responsibility over the years, he has always shown me that he knows I am more than ready for the next challenge.
All of this is to say, that part of why I am here on this stage today is thanks to him. I am old enough now to remember to tell him how much his support along the way has meant to me. Maybe the children you are visiting today are ahead of their time and already know how to tell you that you help them feel stronger. But just in case, I’ll step in—you are so vital to their lives, and being here today means so much to them.
Thank you so much for coming. And now you are going to hear from the Upper School Rock Band.
Thank you to our student speakers and performers, and thank you to our professional community for supporting their growth and their confidence, and thank you again to all of you for joining us. I hope that today is the beginning of a season of time together with your families and friends and especially with these students, who are clearly so important to all of you. For the afternoon, you will be able to enjoy learning about their learning, and I know from my own experience that this time you are sharing with them today will only become more important over the years to come.
Before you stand up to leave, I want to point out three ways you can exit this theater to meet your students under the class color flags around the Circle. There are two exits at the front (point to each) and one at the back (point to the door that leads to the lobby). Please remember there will be reception in the Dining Room between 1:30 and 3:30 if you have time to stop by. I truly hope you delight in this time together today.