The 1990s
In May 1990, the inaugural eighth grade class – all 10 students – graduated. By the time the second phase of the capital campaign was completed in 1994, the eighth grade class had tripled in size with 31 graduating students. Mrs. Cook’s bricks-and-mortar vision was realized; the new building was dedicated in the fall of 1994, the same year she announced her retirement.
Before retiring, Mrs. Cook hired a new head of Middle School. Walter Sorensen accepted the position with gusto and worked to strengthen the academic and co-curricular programs for sixth, seventh and eighth graders.
Throughout this period of growth, Mrs. Cook never lost sight of the school’s mission to teach the “whole child” in a Christian environment. She believed in enriching education with art, music and foreign languages and in leading students to the “recognition of the value of our faith and practice as Episcopalians.” She believed in hiring teachers who would love, nurture and help shape children for their futures. This was summarized in her letter to the school's Board of Trustees at her final Board meeting on June 15, 1995, “It is the child who is important.”
Mr. Sorensen was named interim head of school in 1997, following two years of school leadership by Ann Hergenrother. After faculty initiated a “We Want Walter” campaign, Mr. Sorensen was selected as head of school in 1998.