Groundbreaking on the Elder Oak Commons

Editor’s note: On Saturday, April 12, eighteen volunteers from the DA community were joined by landscape designer Preston Montague and Extension Master Gardener student Kevin Westfield to plant five hundred shrubs, trees, grasses and other native plants at the corner of Pickett and Ridge Rds. This work began the long-planned conversion of a grassy expanse to a biodiverse environment on campus. Upper School Director Lanis Wilson participated and wrote this reflection in his weekly newsletter, Yo La Tengo.

Good Sunday Morning all and Chag Pesach Sameach to those celebrating Passover this weekend. 

I hope this message finds you enjoying this pleasantly cool weekend. As the sun filters through the newly green canopy this morning, I find myself reflecting on yesterday’s Elder Oak Commons planting event. What a profound experience it was to work alongside fellow faculty and their families, our hands in the soil, planting native plants and saplings that many of us may never see reach their full majesty.

Lanis Wilson and Kevin Westfield at work
Photo Credit: Mallory Vaccaro

This collective act of faith in the future brings to mind Cicero’s wisdom from his Tusculan Disputations: “Serit arbores quae alteri saeculo prosint.” – “He who plants trees labors for the benefit of future generations.” As I watched our community digging, planting, and watering together, I couldn’t help but see the parallel between this ancient Roman observation and our calling as educators. Edward Byles Cowell captured this connection beautifully in a letter of thanks to his friends in 1896, when he noted: “The teacher’s motto may well be—Serit arbores quae alteri saeculo prosint.” Indeed, what are we as educators if not planters of seeds? Each lesson we teach, each moment of guidance we offer, each challenge we present to our students – these are all saplings we plant in fertile minds, knowing full well that the greatest fruits of our labor may blossom long after our time.

Preston Montague with his trusty shovel. Photo credit: Tina Bessias

Like those young plants we settled into the earth yesterday, the knowledge and values we cultivate in our students will continue to grow, providing shade, shelter, and sustenance for generations to come. Some days, the soil seems rocky and unyielding. Other days, like yesterday, we are reminded of the profound privilege it is to be stewards of both our natural environment and our students’ intellectual and moral development. Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond the physical act of planting trees. It encompasses the sustainable practices we model in our classrooms, the enduring relationships we build with our students, and the lasting impact of the educational experiences we create together. Planting and teaching are the ultimate expressions of hope for the future.As you move through the week ahead, I invite you to consider: What seeds are you planting today that will benefit future generations? How might your teaching, your interactions, your presence on campus contribute to a more sustainable, more compassionate, more thoughtful world?

For those who couldn’t join us yesterday, there will be photos of our tree-planting adventure on the school’s social media pages. The sight of our community coming together, hands in the soil, faces turned toward the future – it fills my heart with hope, and yes, dances with the literal and metaphorical daffodils.

With gratitude for all that our faculty and staff do to nurture our community and our planet.  Thank you.