I want to express my gratitude to all our Williamsburg Academy (WA) families and wish you a warm welcome to the 2023-2024 academic year!
Whether you are returning or a first-time student or parent at our school, on behalf of our mentors and support staff, we are excited to join your students in their life journey this coming year.
I have often been asked how our school is different from others. There are many answers I could give to this, but the one that stands out to me is culture. Culture is hard to create unless everyone has buy-in and experiences that cement into their lives.
I have found that many students are reluctant to show their authentic selves to others for fear of embarrassment or rejection. This fear is so real for many of our students. But I see a culture within our school of acceptance of others where students can feel valued and appreciated, quirks and all, as they strive to be genuine about who they are and what they are passionate about.
Our students are exceptional at helping others feel accepted and seen for who they are. This culture is also fostered by mentors who lead by example and genuinely care about their students.
All of this leads to greater connection and community within our school.
This year, we are encouraging an increased level of connection by sponsoring several in-person events organized by our Student Body Leadership (SBL) team. Our sister schools, Leadership Academy of Utah (LAU) and Williamsburg Academy of Colorado (WAC), have also agreed to open activities to our WA students throughout the year, including Prom, Graduation, and other exciting events. Further information will be provided as details are finalized.
We encourage parents of WA students to continue to hold informal get-togethers with students, families, and friends in your local area. We will strive to assist you in having these meetups.
Finally, I am pleased to announce that we will be piloting an online meetup for parents, which will happen a number of times during the semester. The purpose is to provide an opportunity for you to meet other WA parents and discuss topics that are common to us all. We can ask questions, discuss, and get advice from each other in areas that relate to our roles as parents trying to support our students in school and life. In the coming weeks, you will receive a separate email explaining this in more detail and asking for your feedback regarding times and topics to discuss. I hope you will all be a part of this fantastic opportunity to build connections with each other.
I wish you all the best in your preparations for the upcoming year, and I look forward to seeing your amazing students in class!
Warmly,
Ross Gilbert
Headmaster, Williamsburg Academy
Action Items
On-Demand Parent Orientation: Our new On-Demand Parent Orientation page has everything you need to set your student up for success this year! Please be sure to review the videos on this page no later than the first day of classes on Monday, August 21.
How to Prepare for School: Please review and complete our How to Prepare for School webpage in preparation for the first day of school. If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Support team.
Announcements
Live Q&A: We are offering a live Parent Welcome and Q&A session on Thursday, August 17, at 1:00 PM MT to answer any questions you may have after completing the On-Demand Parent Orientation. The Zoom link for the Q&A will be sent on the day of the event.
Upcoming Events
August 17: Q&A Session – 1:00 PM MT
August 21: First Day of Classes
September 4: Labor Day – No Classes
