Cultivating Purpose: Kicking Off the 2024-2025 School Year

With cheers, hugs, and laughter all around, Marlborough is once again alive with the energy of students, faculty, staff, and administrators ready to dive into the 2024-2025 school year. Amplifying the excitement was the Class of 2025 who welcomed everyone to campus. Equipped with purple poms poms and encouraging signs, the Seniors danced and cheered throughout the morning, setting a spirited tone for the days ahead. 

Seniors began their day even earlier than most when they arrived at 7:00 a.m. to take part in a cherished tradition: Senior Sunrise. This tradition allows time for them to convene as a class and soak in the weight of their last first day of Marlborough. Seniors were given their class sweatshirts, enjoyed breakfast together, and prepared signs they would later wave as the welcoming committee at the front gates. They also got their first glimpse of the Senior Lounge, lovingly transformed by the Class of 2025 parents and guardians into an atmospheric, warm, and inviting space. 

The community felt the shared enthusiasm as everyone gathered together in Caswell Hall for the first All-School Meeting (ASM). Head of School Jennifer Ciccarelli welcomed new and returning students, emphasizing one of Marlborough’s core values, Cultivating Purpose, as this year’s theme. In her address, Ms. Ciccarelli explained the importance of this value, stating, “An important first step in ‘cultivating purpose,’ is to figure out what you love. What is it that makes you happy? What do you pursue not because you have to, but because you want to?” She encouraged students to engage in self-reflection, curiosity, and to maintain a growth mindset as they explore the myriad opportunities Marlborough offers.

All-School President Taryn A. ’25 also addressed the community during ASM, bringing her signature creativity and enthusiasm to her remarks. After taking the time to welcome new students and new staculty members to the community, she paused to reflect on her own Marlborough journey from her first day as a new student to now the start of her final year as a Violet. Calling upon this perspective, she encouraged her peers to approach the year with positivity, saying, “We have the power to be bold, confident, and unapologetic this year.”

As the Marlborough community embarks on this new academic year, the focus on boldness and the value of cultivating purpose promises to guide students in discovering their passions, developing meaningful skills, and making a positive impact on the world around them.

An important first step in ‘cultivating purpose,’ is to figure out what you love. What is it that makes you happy? What do you pursue not because you have to, but because you want to?”

Jennifer Ciccarelli, Head of School