Good morning, Castilleja, and welcome to the early morning we’ve been eagerly waiting for—the Tie Ceremony! I am so excited to begin this day—and this school year together. It was an honor to ring the bell today, with Mr. Dailey, who has been at Castilleja for 18 years and will be retiring in June.
I am in awe, looking out at all of us here together on the Circle. There is so much energy, excitement and joy here. Can you feel it? A new school year is upon us. It is a new beginning. A new moment to reconnect, reinvent, to make new connections and learn even more about each other and ourselves.
As we stand here together, I am hearing a verse from an elementary school song running through my thoughts- Make New Friends– Do you know this song? The lyrics go:
Make new friends,
But keep the old.
One is silver,
And the other, gold.
A circle's round
It has no end
That's how long
I'm gonna be your friend.
It’s a simple verse with a simple tune but it reminds me of the importance of lasting friendships. And I think back to my school days and think about the girls I met there and how, even though I continue to be lucky enough to make new friends as an adult, it is many of my middle school and high school friends that I return to even today.
It’s so powerful to be connected to each other as part of the Casti community. We’re a school where girls develop agency to write their own stories. You can learn about yourself, discover your interests, and realize your ambitions on and within this Circle—and I’m thrilled ot be on this journey with you.
You are the subject of your story. You have main character energy. But let’s not forget your sidekicks and support team- your families and teachers. Make new friends but keep the old. Students look around, these are your peers and people who you will connect with for years to come. You’ll see them at reunions, you’ll keep up on social media and text or whatever new form of communication develops. It’s a special connection and experience that no one else will have with you except for your fellow Castilleja students. Your shared memories of retreats and traditions and classes and global weeks will stay with you on and on, without end. These are the people who were with you when you began writing the story that will become your life.
Look at the wonderful people who make up this community, this circle of friends. A circle is round and has no end, that’s how long I’m going to be and we are going to be friends. I am so eager to connect with you and hear your stories as they unfold this school year!
Once again, welcome to the Circle for the Tie Ceremony, and welcome to the 2025-26 school year. I am grateful to be sharing this time and space with you.