There is nothing more joyful, yet more difficult as a Head of School in a small, intentional community like Knox, than the deep connections that are made with students, families, and alumni. Why difficult, you may ask? Because in times like these, and in the world we find ourselves in currently, our students’ pain, our families’ pain, humanity’s pain – is OUR pain.
Recent news from around the world has been deeply unsettling. For a school like Knox, whose community spans continents, cultures, and faith traditions, events beyond our campus never feel distant. The violence at Bondi Beach, which struck during a moment of religious gathering and celebration, has resonated within our school community. For many, it has stirred feelings of grief, fear, and disbelief, emotions that are entirely human and entirely valid.
At the same time, as our seniors prepare to take their next steps toward college life, the news emerging from Brown University has felt especially close to home. For students standing on the threshold of independence, and for families who entrust colleges with their children’s safety and growth, such reports can be deeply unsettling.
I want to be clear: it is okay to feel shaken by these events. It is okay to feel sadness, anger, confusion, or worry. At Knox, we strive to ensure that our community remains a place where these emotions can be acknowledged with honesty and compassion, because here, our students feel safe to ask questions and to talk, because they know they will be supported.
In our conversations with students, we are mindful to focus on verified information rather than speculation or rumor, and to approach these moments with sensitivity and perspective. We emphasize not the perpetrators of violence, but the lives affected, the communities grieving, and the many individuals – first responders, bystanders, educators, and neighbors – who step forward with courage and care in moments of crisis. These helpers remind us that even in dark times, humanity persists.
As an educational community, we also see these moments as opportunities for reflection and growth. We encourage students to think critically about the world they are inheriting: how acts of hate and violence take root, how media shapes perception, and how communities can respond with resilience rather than fear. Most importantly, we remind them that they are not powerless, and that empathy, dialogue, and purposeful action matter, especially when the world feels unsteady.
At Knox, compassion is not an abstract ideal; it is a daily practice. It is how we teach, how we listen, and how we support one another, especially when the world feels unsteady. Our faculty, advisors, and administrators remain attentive to our students’ emotional well-being, and we encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out. No one should carry these feelings alone.
To our parents and alumni: thank you for your trust, your partnership, and your continued belief in the values that define this school. To our students: you are not only preparing for college and careers; you are also learning how to navigate complexity with integrity and courage, and this matters now more than ever.
In a world that can feel fractured, Knox remains a place of connection, belonging, and purpose. Together, we will continue to create space for understanding, to lead with compassion, and to help our students become thoughtful, grounded individuals who are ready to engage with the world as it is – and as it can be.
