校长每周寄语 2023/06/18-2023/06/24
本周，孟思渊校长分享了一封创校主席贰诲&苍产蝉辫;厂丑补苍补丑补苍博士写给鼎石社区的信：
亲爱的鼎石社区，
在连续4年因疫情原因未能踏足我所热爱的鼎石之后，我今年得以重返这里，参加2023届学生的毕业典礼，和他们的亲朋好友一起庆祝他们取得的成就，我的喜悦之情无以言表。而对于我来说，有幸在这届杰出的毕业生开启自己非凡教育旅程的下一个阶段之前向他们致辞，更是特别的体验！我知道，有着你们为他们打下的坚实基础，他们将在学业上继续取得好成绩，也将在未来的日子里继续为他人做出更多贡献。
本学年已接近尾声，我想借此机会，回顾一下我们在鼎石取得的杰出成就。这一年，我们见证了许多里程碑式的时刻，也取得了许多积极进展，这一切都在推动我们学校社区的成长与成功。
今年的一大亮点是2023届毕业生取得了优异的大学录取结果。学生们的努力与付出、教职员工对他们的鼎力支持，最终转化成了这一令人瞩目的成就。大学录取方面的成功，充分反映了鼎石课程的学术严谨性以及鼎石为学生提供的全面发展及充分准备。
除了庆祝本届毕业生的成就之外，我们很高兴首次举办了校友5周年聚会活动。在这个充满欢乐的场合，我们与校友们重聚，回忆他们在鼎石的时光，庆祝他们自毕业以来取得的成就，并借此机会正式成立鼎石校友会，以期促进毕业生之间的终身联结并培养强烈的社区意识。
我还很高兴地与大家分享，家长们对鼎石招生的需求依然迫切。鼎石设备完善的美丽校园像磁铁一般吸引着为孩子追寻卓越教育的家庭。我们所取得的优异成就以及我们在北京和全国范围内的整体学术声誉，进一步提高了我们作为一所领先教育机构的地位。此外，我们致力于追求卓越和创新的坚持以及我们独特的双语、全球化教育模式，在世界范围内获得了广泛认可。
最后，还有一点十分重要。今年还有一大亮点，即我们顺利完成了从闵茂康校长到孟思渊校长的重要过渡。在过去的十年里，闵茂康校长一直推动着鼎石在各个方面追求卓越，并为其继任者孟思渊博士提供了一个坚实且认可度极高的办学基础，以便后者在此基础上带领学校迈向下一个高度。而孟思渊博士也为这项艰巨的任务做好了充分准备。
正如普纳荷学校校长迈克尔·莱瑟姆（Michael Latham）在宣布孟思渊博士被任命为鼎石执行校长时所说：“她实施了许多创新举措，积极地改变了（普纳荷）学校，并取得了非凡的成就。”他接着说：“然而，尽管她作为一名教育工作者取得了巨大的成就和创新，但我最尊重、最钦佩的是她作为一名教师的心。她非常关心教与学，她对优质教学的专注持续不断地塑造着她的工作。”莱瑟姆校长的这些赞誉之词（英文全文附后）充分体现了孟思渊校长在普纳荷受到的高度尊重，也让鼎石董事会坚信她能够出色地领导鼎石迈进第二个辉煌的十年。孟思渊校长没有让我们失望，她担任执行校长第一年的出色表现值得我们为其喝彩。她成功带领学校渡过了对所有人都充满挑战的疫情最后阶段，并近距离地深入了解共同参加铸造了充满向心力的鼎石大家庭成员们。
当我们展望2023-2024年（鼎石建校第10个学年）时，我心中充满了对未来的憧憬。迄今为止，我们的旅程一直充满着进步与成功，我相信在即将到来的新学年也不会例外。有了我们优秀的教职员工的持续奉献和专业技能，我们将在现有成就的基础之上，进一步提升我们为学生提供的教育体验。正如我在毕业典礼上所说：“祝福各位家长、各位学生以及鼎石的教职员工！”
因此，我谨代表鼎石董事会，向你们每一位表达我最深切的感谢，感谢你们对鼎石始终如一的支持、热爱和辛勤付出。正是由于你们凝心聚力，我们才能在今年取得如此多的成就。我很自豪能成为这个卓越社区的一分子，并热切地期待着鼎石未来的机遇与成功。
祝大家度过一个宁静放松、充满活力的暑假。
致以温暖的问候，
Ed Shanahan，鼎石创校主席
莱瑟姆校长宣布孟思渊博士被任命为鼎石执行校长的贺信
Mahalo and Congratulations to Emily McCarren
Michael E. Latham, Ph.D. '86
President
Punahou School
Dear Faculty and Staff,
I write to share the news that Emily McCarren, Academy Principal, will be leaving Punahou School at the end of the 2021-2022 school year (summer 2022) to become Head of School for Keystone Academy, a leading K-12 independent school in Beijing, China.
Punahou has been undoubtedly strengthened during Emily’s tenure as Academy Principal, a role that she assumed in 2015. Over the past six years, Emily has implemented numerous innovative initiatives that have positively transformed the Academy. Among her major accomplishments as Principal, Emily was instrumental in the creation of G-Term, the Global Sustainability by Design courses, our partnership with the Global Online Academy, the redesign and expansion of student wellness programs in the Academy, and she has helped lead strategic planning for new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, to name just a few. Prior to her role as Academy Principal, Emily served as the Director of the Wo International Center, where she elevated the program’s profile and inspired countless students to connect across borders and cultures.
For all of her accomplishments and innovations as an educator, however, it is Emily’s heart as a teacher that I respect and admire most. Emily cares deeply about teaching and learning, and her commitment has constantly shaped her work. I will always be grateful for the way she supported the 1,750 students under her care in the Academy during this most challenging of years. At each and every unpredictable turn, Emily displayed a deep and enduring sense of responsibility for her students, faculty and staff. Together with her Assistant Principals, Deans, Academy Department Heads and Faculty, Emily worked tirelessly to ensure that our students’ health and wellbeing were cared for, that their learning continued uninterrupted, and that student life would carry on in all its richness. All the while, she supported her colleagues with compassion, optimism, and encouragement.
Clearly, Emily is ready to take the next step in her remarkable career, and I applaud her appointment as Keystone Academy’s next Head of School, effective July 1, 2022. She will succeed Keystone’s founding Head of School Mr. Malcolm McKenzie, who will retire after leading Keystone since 2014. Located in Beijing, Keystone sits squarely at the intersection of innovation and tradition, offering a bi-lingual, globally-minded education in one of the most populous and dynamic cities in the world. With her boundless energy and creativity, I am confident Emily will provide visionary and engaging leadership for Keystone’s future.
Before that happens, however, we are fortunate to have another year with Emily as we begin a search for her successor. I look forward to working closely with her in the year ahead and to celebrating her legacy here at Punahou.
Please join me in congratulating Emily on this exciting and promising new adventure for her and her family.
With gratitude and aloha,
Mike
