First Day of the 2018-2019 School Year!

The 359th school year began at Hopkins on Tuesday, September 4, with an all-school assembly in the Walter Camp Athletic Center. Head of School Dr. Kai Bynum gave an opening day address, and welcomed new and returning students and faculty to an exciting year ahead. In his address, Dr. Bynum encouraged the community to stay true to yourself, look for opportunity and take risks. In his own words, “The Chinese word for crisis is made up of two characters: one is the character for danger, the other is opportunity. Today more than ever, we need you to recognize the danger, but have an attitude that looks for the opportunity, an attitude that approaches a glass of water that is half full and sees an opportunity to fill it with your passion, grit, and wisdom instead of being silenced and paralyzed by the potential danger of having the glass half empty. Your attitude is what you can control.“

Dr. Bynum also recited his favorite proverb which he shares on opening day each year, with the addition of a new verse proposed and written by Dylan Sloan ’18 in his Valedictory address at Commencement in June:

Assembly continued with announcements from Assistant Head of School John Roberts, Director of Athletics Rocco DeMaio, Student Council President Sam Jenkins ’19, members of Student Productions and the Yearbook, as well as Art Department Chair Robert Smith.

The traditional closing to the first assembly of the year is a performance by a member of the senior class. Seniors Zack Blake on cello and Alex Zhang on violin, accompanied by faculty member Erika Schroth on piano, performed Dvorak’s Dumky Trio, a thoughtful dance with spirited moments. Please see video below.

Following assembly, students met with their adviser groups to receive their class schedules before setting out on their first day of classes. Here’s to a great year ahead!