As I greeted our arriving students and parents at carpool this morning, it seemed almost impossible to believe an entire school year has passed. Yet here we are, on the last day, and I can’t help but reflect on how many incredible events we have shared: The Back-to-School Picnic, Book Fair, Hoop-A-Thon, Grandfriends’ Day, music and theater performances, sporting events, Hoop-A-Thon, the Spring Benefit, Candle Lighting, and Graduation—just to name a few!
As the year comes to a close, I am flooded with gratitude to so many of you who have warmly welcomed me to this wonderful community. I am humbled by how many people love and serve Turning Point, a devotion I have come to understand, and indeed, share. I have been drawn to this passion ever since I met the search committee almost two years ago, and I have seen it reflected in families, faculty, staff, trustees, and students. It has provided me with purpose and direction through the wilderness of my first year at Turning Point, and it has been gratifying to find so many like-minded partners who devote their time and energy on behalf of our school. This year has provided me with the opportunity to see the community with fresh eyes, and to learn from all of you about your experiences, hopes, and dreams for Turning Point and for your role in its growth and evolution. We will continue to move from strength to strength, living by the words of my wise mentor, Lucinda Lee Katz, Head of Marin Country Day School, “Mirrors freshly polished, windows wide open.”
I have spent much time this year reflecting on my work and discovering new ways that I can contribute to the success of Turning Point. Educators generally stay committed to this work by investing in their own growth. I am no different. This year I have continued my development as a leader and a person; while I anticipated the kinds of hard decisions that might face me and the areas that I wanted and needed to learn more about, I grew exponentially from so many new experiences—from collaborating with a whip smart and highly knowledgeable Board of Trustees, to experiencing the wonder of a Montessori-based Primary program, to managing my dual role as a Head of School and a mom of two.
Even the “lighter” moments stretched me out of my comfort zone—shooting hoops in front of a crowd, performing a walk-on part in the middle school play, and singing carpool karaoke. In all areas, the rewards were satisfying and helped our school, and so I hope that my engagement with discomfort will serve as a model for our students to try new things. I am committed to finding more “firsts” next year and beyond.
As I move into my second year, with a successful CAIS/WASC accreditation visit behind us and a vision for the school’s next steps—thanks to all your participation and feedback about what makes Turning Point unique, how people view the school, and what people hope for the school’s future—I am grateful to be more settled not only at Turning Point, but in Los Angeles more generally. Thank you for welcoming my family so warmly, knowing that while children handle transitions with resilience, change is still taxing and takes time to process. My sons have thrived here, as I knew they would. My son, Jack, is off to Peru in a few days for Turning Point’s summer service learning trip, and my son, Miles, is excited to be an Athletics Big Buddy to our Primary campers at Turning Point’s Start-of-Summer Camp. As you can see, both are already embodying so much of Turning Point’s mission and core values.
While much of the “behind-the-scenes” work is accomplished over the summer, I do look forward to taking a little time to enjoy summer blockbusters, beach days, time away in New Hampshire with my extended family and friends, and opportunities to catch up on my reading. I wish you a glorious summer with much-needed downtime. I hope you will share with us at Turning Point your summer adventures. Please send us postcards, which we will share with the community when we return to school in the fall.
Again, I am so thankful for all of you in this wonderful community who helped make the transition to Turning Point so meaningful and positive for my entire family. I look forward to seeing many of you over the next few months at Summer Camp, and will be happily awaiting your return to the carpool line in August!
Dr. Laura Konigsberg
Head of School
