Happy New Year! I hope our students and their families and friends had a wonderful and well celebrated holiday season. For the many students who remained on campus, there were sports and entertainment galore.

Our student athletes participated in practices and games on campus, as well as traveling to tournaments around the Bay Area. Our Men’s and Women’s Basketball and Soccer teams held daily practices, and our basketball program hosted the San Domenico Invitational Tournament. Local daily paper the Marin Independent Journal named basketball standouts Maja C.’23 and Gytis G. ’23 as Preps of the Week - congratulations to our student athletes!

In their down time, we offered nightly movies and shows (Ratatouille was a popular request!) and fresh baked cookies and brownies. For students who wanted more time in the gym or weight room, we had those offered as well. As Christmas approached, students requested more holiday-themed movies, including the Christmas Chronicles series. On Christmas Day, students were welcomed to a hosted White Elephant game with myself and Resident Faculty Matt Polsinello, where we had cookies and coffee. Students enjoyed opening their gifts almost as much as they enjoyed teasing one another by stealing someone’s gift. By the end of the game, the students were happy with their respective gifts and we played movies for the group in Mercedes’ Lounge. 

The week between Christmas and New Year’s seemed as though it passed both so fast and so slow! However, when December 31 finally arrived, students were greeted with Miss Jimenez’ party to ring in the New Year. She planned a celebration for students who remained or returned in time, complete with sharing their New Year’s resolutions, noise-makers to celebrate the arrival of the New Year (both in New York and for use in their dorm lounges when it began in California!), and lots of sweets and goodies. Students prepared meals together in Mercedes’ Lounge and watched movies. The students voted for Ocean’s Eight to watch as they rang in the New Year.

We at the Boarding Program are so grateful to be able to celebrate the new semester with your students and look forward to when all our students have returned to campus! It is always a pleasure to reflect on the previous year together and plan for the year ahead and we are so grateful that we can help plan new inspiring, supportive, and enlivening events to help your students grow in the upcoming year. Happy 2023!

– Jessica Farley, Dorm Head West Building