Dear Drew Community,
What an energizing start to the school year! It has been wonderful to have our students backon campus and to see Drew buzzing with activity once again.
The energy started building well before the first bell. The week before classes begun, seniors returned for College Application Boot Camp, where 16 college representatives offered one-on-one guidance and essay support. ASB prepared for our Welcome Assembly, fall athletes got back to practice, faculty and staff came together for professional development and planning, and on the Friday, we welcomed our ninth graders and new transfer students for orientation.
Last Sunday, our newest Dragons and their families gathered at Dolores Park for our New to Drew Family Social to enjoy games, Drew swag, and plenty of conversation. Then, as the school year officially got underway, each grade had its own special experience: ninth graders headed to Jones Gulch YMCA Camp for ropes courses, sophomores to Presidio Bowl, juniors to House of Air, and seniors to a Giants game and their Senior Kick-Off.
On Tuesday morning, it was time to bring everyone together. I joined Drew faculty and staff — and, of course, Hatch the Dragon — out front to greet students on the first day of school. From there, our students took the lead at the ASB Welcome Assembly, complete with aliens, the Magic Drew Bus, Ms. Frizzle, Liz, and plenty of Drew creativity.
That spirit continued all week. For the first time, we provided lunch for all students, faculty, and staff, keeping campus closed so everyone could eat, connect, and enjoy activities like puzzling, bracelet making, board games, basketball, and ping pong together. Classes are underway, our fall athletes are hard at work, and it was terrific to see so many families at Wednesday evening’s Fall Sports Night, too.
And, of course, learning is at the heart of everything we do. Across classes and Advisories, students began by co-creating norms that establish expectations and help build the trust needed to learn together. In English, students are reconnecting with their summer reading while refreshing the skills they’ll build on throughout the year. And in Anatomy & Physiology Honors, students took their learning outside on the very first day, using chalk to map the inner workings of the human body across the courtyard.
These moments — from a courtyard anatomy lesson to a shared lunch or spirited assembly — reflect something fundamental about Drew: relationships are the foundation for learning. When students feel known, connected, and comfortable being themselves, they are better prepared to take intellectual risks, engage deeply, ask difficult questions, and stretch beyond what they thought they could do.
That same belief shaped our faculty’s preparation for this year. Over the summer, faculty explored the “Mentor Mindset” from David Yeager’s 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People, deepening our shared commitment to pairing high expectations with high support. It’s an approach that reflects what we want every Drew student to experience: adults who know them, believe in their potential, challenge them to grow, and create conditions for deeper learning.
And if you’re new to Drew, I hope you’ll join me for Scones with Saya this Friday, August 28 or September 4 — a relaxed morning to connect, ask questions, and get to know one another over a scone (or two).
I am grateful to our students, families, faculty, staff, and trustees for all you do to make Drewthe community it is. There is so much ahead this year, and I’m especially excited to see you on September 16 for FutureFest, when we’ll celebrate the launch of our new strategic plan and share a first look at where we’re headed — together.
Here’s to a wonderful 2026–27, Dragons!
Warmly,
Saya McKenna
Head of School
