Soaring into a new year together
In this newsletter, you can expect:
Birds of a Feather,
Now that August has arrived, I wanted to take a moment to welcome each of you back for another exciting year at Fuqua School! I hope your summer has been filled with rest, adventure, and meaningful time with family and friends.
As I reflect on all that has been accomplished over the past year, I am reminded that Fuqua School has always been much more than a campus. It is a community where students are challenged to be their very best, encouraged to discover their unique gifts, and surrounded by people who believe deeply in their potential.
As we begin this next chapter together, I am especially excited to share an important milestone in the life of our school. After thoughtful reflection, our Board of Trustees and school leadership have adopted a new mission statement that captures both the heart of who we are and the future we are committed to building:
“At Fuqua, we cultivate character and opportunity through a rigorous education and a nurturing community that prepare students for lives of purpose.”
While our mission statement is new, the values it expresses have long been part of who we are. It simply gives voice to the work our faculty, staff, students, and families have been doing together for generations.
This mission is much more than a statement on our website. It is a promise. A promise that every student who walks through our doors will be challenged academically, supported personally, and encouraged to grow into a person of character, confidence, compassion, and purpose. It serves as the foundation for the decisions we make, the relationships we build, and the experiences we strive to create for every Falcon.
This summer has been a wonderful reflection of that commitment in action, and I am excited to share some of the many ways Fuqua continues to grow and move forward.
The Future is Taking Shape
This year, after years of planning and anticipation, construction will officially begin on Fuqua School’s new Upper School.
This transformational project represents one of the most significant investments in our students and our future in many years. More than a new building, it is a commitment to providing exceptional learning environments that inspire curiosity, collaboration, and academic excellence for generations of Falcons to come.
We are deeply grateful to ourBoard of Trustees, generous supporters, and everyone whose vision and dedication have helped make this exciting milestone possible. As construction progresses throughout the year, we look forward to sharing updates and celebrating each step of this remarkable journey together.
Our New Website is coming soon!
In just a few weeks, we will unveil Fuqua School’s brand-new website. Thanks to the generosity of several members of the Fuqua family, this new online home has been thoughtfully designed to capture the spirit of our school while celebrating the outstanding work of our teachers, coaches, students, staff, alumni, and everyone who makes Fuqua such a special place.
The new website will provide prospective and current families with an engaging look at life at Fuqua, from our strong academic programs and championship athletics to the arts, student life, and the many opportunities available to every Falcon. It will also introduce our new Mission Statement and reflect the values that continue to guide our school community.
As we continue telling the story of Fuqua in new ways online, we are equally excited to continue writing the next chapter on our campus.
A New Dining Partnership
We are also excited to welcome Grateful Fed Catering as our new food service partner for the upcoming school year. They will provide healthy, affordable meal options for students and staff, along with convenient take-home dinners for families on select days throughout the week.
We are thrilled to offer this wonderful new benefit to our community and believe it will be a tremendous addition to campus life. And if you happen to notice a few expanding waistlines this year, we’ll know exactly who deserves the credit!
Investing in our Campus
Our campus has been a busy place this summer as we continue making improvements that enhance the experiences of our students, faculty, and families. Recent projects include:
- Renovations to the Band Room and Football Locker Room, including new roofing, gutters, windows, and fresh paint.
- Upgrades to Gilmer Gym, including a new roof, refinished flooring, and soon-to-be completed front facade improvements.
- New signage at the Lower School Commons, relocated from our former Barber Street entrance.
These improvements represent our continued commitments to provide a campus where students can learn, compete, create, and grow.
A special thank you to our new Director of Operations, H.G. Austin, and proud parent of two Falcons, whose leadership and tireless work throughout the summer have helped ensure our campus is ready to welcome everyone back. His dedication, attention to detail, and willingness to jump in wherever needed have been greatly appreciated.
Back-to-School Bash – august 11
Finally, I hope you will join us for our Back-to-School Bash on the evening of August 11 as we celebrate the beginning of another great year at Fuqua School.
Our new Dean of Admissions, Ms. Ginny Gills (’85), has been working incredibly hard to prepare an evening filled with Falcon spirit and community connection. This will be a wonderful opportunity to meet your teachers, drop off school supplies, reconnect with friends, and enjoy all the festivities we have planned, including live music, community partners, the reveal of our school store, and much more.
Most importantly, this evening is about celebrating what makes Fuqua so special – our people. The strength of our school has always been found in the relationships among our students, families, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, and friends. I hope you will join us as we come together to kick off another outstanding year.
As we look ahead, I could not be more excited about what this year holds for our students and our school. From introducing our new mission statement to beginning construction on our new Upper School, this is a season of tremendous momentum for Fuqua. Yet, what excites me most is not simply the projects or improvements – it is the opportunity to continue investing in the lives of our students every single day.
Thank you for your continued support and for entrusting us with the privilege of educating your children. Together, we will continue to cultivate character and opportunity through a rigorous education and a nurturing community that prepares every Falcon for a life of purpose.
Birds of a Feather….we soar higher together.
See you soon–and, as always,
Go Falcons!
Paul “Chance” Reynolds, M.P.A., Ed.S.
Head of School