Getting to Know You

Getting to know the people, traditions, and quirks of an entire school community is no small task, but this fall, Head of School Susanna Waters dived in, embracing every chance to connect and engage— and even creating some new opportunities! 

At the closing meetings in June, Susanna invited Fay faculty and staff to share their “must-do” bucket list of quintessential Fay experiences for her first year as Head of School. With their input, she crafted a Bingo card filled with suggestions, from running the Primary School Mini Marathon to taking a cameo role in a school play and even sledding down the hill on the Quad. Determined to check off every square by the end of the year, Susanna is well on her way!

Susanna has been immersing herself in the daily life of the School, joining classes with students, traveling to Merrowvista to spend time with the sixth graders on their leadership retreat, greeting students in an impressive array of silly hats at morning drop off, and cheering on Fay’s sports teams from the sidelines. She also launched the “Hello Campaign,” which encourages Fay community members to greet each other warmly and introduce themselves if needed. To motivate students to embrace this initiative, Susanna introduced a new currency—Moosebucks! If, after three meaningful interactions, Susanna can’t recall a student’s name, they earn up to five Moosebucks to redeem at the School Store.

Susanna has also been connecting with Fay’s parent/guardian community in meaningful ways, hosting several casual meet-and-greet events before the fall Back to School nights in each division. For families who live farther away from Fay, Susanna has been hitting the road to bring those connections closer to home, and Fay families and alumni have generously hosted events at every stop. In August, she traveled to Seoul, attending the Korean Parents’ Association reception, and she has also visited with Fay community members in Mexico City, Hong Kong, Taipei, Shanghai, and Beijing.