Building Belonging Through Connection

BCD’s ‘Fall Fest: Pumpkin Palooza’ was an incredible celebration of community, connection, joy, and—of course—pumpkins; offering an extraordinary reflection of the spirit that makes Boulder Country Day so special. That same energy was alive last weekend at the Boulderthon Kids Run sponsored by BCD, where I had the privilege of cheering on Boulder's youngest runners. Watching our community come together, encouraging one another, and celebrating being part of something bigger was truly inspiring.

Moments like these are powerful reminders of how deeply well-being, community, and belonging are woven into the fabric of BCD. When we gather, challenge ourselves, and support each other, we strengthen the bonds that make us who we are.

Building on this sense of community, we know that true belonging flourishes when we feel safe, seen, and supported. When students feel fully supported, they are ready to challenge themselves, innovate, and become confident changemakers. I am continually inspired by the care and support our students receive from their teachers, counselors, learning center staff, division heads, Bulldog families, and every member of our community. The emotional and physical safety of our students and staff continues to be our highest priority. It has been meaningful to work with school safety experts to enhance our practices and ensure our campus remains a secure, joyful, and welcoming place to learn and grow. I look forward to sharing ongoing updates as we make progress together on this important work.

Connection and curiosity have been at the heart of my journey since joining Boulder Country Day. Every day, from Preschool through Middle School, I see students encouraged to explore new ideas, share their voices, and genuinely know and value one another. As we nurture these values, I am eager to deepen my own relationships within this remarkable community and invite you to participate in several upcoming events designed to bring us together.

The first of these will be a “Reading with Robin Coffee Talk”—offered in both the morning and evening—centered on my current reading selection, How to Know a Person by David Brooks. Brooks reminds us that when we approach others with genuine curiosity, our conversations become more authentic, empathetic, and productive. The goal of our time together will be to engage in what Brooks calls “good conversation.” As he writes, “A good conversation is an act of joint exploration. Somebody floats a half-formed idea. Somebody else seizes on the nub of the idea, plays with it, offers her own perspective… A good conversation sparks you to have thoughts you never had before. A good conversation starts in one place and ends up in another.” No matter your place in the book—even if you’ve just glanced at the cover—I hope you’ll join us as we explore together in the spirit of community, conversation, and curiosity.

Another opportunity I’m thrilled to share is our early morning birding walks. My husband Karl, an avid birder, has inspired my own passion for birdwatching. For us, birding is a reminder of our years in outdoor education—experiences that sparked wonder, grounded us, and revealed how we are all part of something bigger. I invite you and your family to join Karl and me as we slow down, listen closely, and notice the beauty in life’s details (no experience necessary).

These events reflect something essential about BCD: our belief that belonging grows through shared experiences and by truly knowing and valuing one another. I am eager to enjoy these opportunities with you—not only to share my own story, but to continue building a community where every student, parent, and educator feels seen, supported, and celebrated.

As we continue building our extraordinary BCD story together, I am committed to keeping curiosity and connection at the heart of our community, empowering our students to grow as creative thinkers, compassionate leaders, and confident changemakers.