Paragon Prep

Dear Paragon Families,

What a week it has been! Our 4th and 5th graders just returned from Outdoor School, and if the sunburned noses and tired smiles are any indication, it was nothing short of amazing. After two days at camp fishing, swimming, conquering the archery range, and tackling the ropes course, our students came back exhausted in the very best way.

Experiences like Outdoor School are so incredibly valuable for our students, and moments like these remind me why we continue to provide them. When kids step away from their screens, their routines, and the familiar walls of our classrooms, something remarkable happens. They detach, they breathe, and they discover things about themselves they never knew were there. Whether it was a student who was terrified of heights conquering the ropes course, or a kid who had never held a fishing pole reeling in their first catch– these are the moments that shape who they are becoming.

On a personal note, I am stepping away briefly this weekend to travel to Lubbock to visit one of my sons at Texas Tech. This will be my first time visiting since I registered him for classes 2 summers ago. I still remember my boys on their first day at Paragon in 2012. Michael was in the first 2nd grade class at Paragon. with his future best friend Ryan, who is now one of his roommates at Tech, along with another Paragon grad, Ian. I am so excited to see our Paragon grads in college, especially as we prepare to see our high school graduates soon on Founders Day.

It is funny how life has a way of running in full circles. Here I am, in the business of beginnings and endings every single day– first days of school, last days of school, watching children grow year after year– and yet nothing quite prepares you for the milestones of your own children. This is the greatest reminder of why education matters. Every teacher, every administrator, every caring adult in a child’s life plants seeds that grow long after the school year ends. I hope we never forget that.

So as I head into this final stretch with a full heart and maybe a little exhaustion, I want to encourage each of you to hold on– just five more weeks. Five weeks to make more memories, to celebrate growth, and to remind our students that they are seen and valued. Let’s finish strong, together. I cannot wait to see what these last five weeks hold for all of us.

With joy,

Lindsay Hay, M. Ed.

Head of School