Head of School's Newsletter: A Walk Through Classrooms, October 2, 2026

A Walk Through the Classrooms

Dear Families,

One of the best parts of my job is walking through the school without an agenda. It is easy for a Head of School to spend too much time in meetings or behind a desk, so I try to make regular “wanders” through classrooms and hallways. These walks keep me connected to the daily life of Brookwood, our students and faculty and, quite simply, they are a great deal of fun!

What I often see is children doing much more than simply completing assignments. They are explaining their thinking, disagreeing respectfully, revising an idea, learning from one another, and developing the confidence to work independently. This was very much the case in fourth grade, where students were working on algebra puzzles, and in second grade, where students were exploring different interpretations of Cinderella from around the world.

In our older grades, a lesson can begin with a text, a problem, or a historical question and lead somewhere no one quite expected. That willingness to follow a good question is something we value deeply at Brookwood. I saw this beautifully in a seventh grade English class, where students were gathered around a Harkness table, fully engaged in a thoughtful discussion of a particularly important point in their class text, with Mr Falconer skillfully guiding the conversation.

October is when the school year at Brookwood begins to find its real shape. Routines are established, relationships are developing, and the learning is beginning to gather momentum. I am genuinely inspired by what I see when I wander through our classrooms and shared spaces.

Thank you for being part of the community that makes all of this possible.

Warmly,

Jon