Boundless curiosity sets the beat to the new school year

By Helen Harrington’24, Harpeth Hall communications department intern 

Harpeth Hall buzzed with excitement as students, both new and returning, stepped onto campus. The middle school pods and upper school hallways came alive. And, as the first assembly of the year began and the speakers in the Frances Bond Davis Theatre roared to life with Usher’s “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love,” the summer hush of empty hallways officially ended. Fueled by the beat of the music, the Class of 2026, wearing neon and pink T-shirts, headphones, and carrying mini mixtapes, came running down the aisle, transforming their seats in the front of the theatre into a scene of energy and excitement. 

Opening Convocation marks the start of a new school year and serves as a meaningful way to bring together the students and faculty who make up Harpeth Hall. 

Head of School Jess Hill welcomed the seniors and introduced their theme of “Spin the Mix in 2026.” As the newest leaders of the school and role models to the younger grades, the Class of 2026 embraces the idea that Harpeth Hall thrives because it has a variety of people, ideas, and perspectives. They believe that the community is strongest when every part is embraced, much like a mixtape, where each song is unique yet contributes powerfully to the whole. Senior Class President Louisa Brown offered some words of encouragement to her class and the school. 

“Seniors. We are the DJs. And now that the younger grades have added their tracks to the tape, we get to spin the mix. Not just listening to the music, but playing it. Setting the tone for the school year,” she told the audience. “So let’s press play and make it our best year yet.”

Louisa reminded everyone that the most masterful mixtapes have a variety of songs, so the only way to blend the Harpeth Hall mixtape is to celebrate the uniqueness that each grade contributes to the school and learn from it, embrace it, and dance to it. Although there will be inevitable bumps along the way, the Harpeth Hall community remains a source of constant support. Eighth grade student Percy Ewald added to this idea with her remarks on the upcoming school year. 

“What matters most is that we don’t face these changes alone,” she said. “Here at school, we lean on each other, learning not only from classes, but from the people around us.” 

Her words echoed Louisa’s: that strength comes not from standing alone but relying on others for support. The concept of learning from and supporting the people around you has inspired the school’s theme for the year - boundless curiosity. Harpeth Hall seeks to inspire students to be lifelong learners and boundless curiosity reflects the belief that whether through listening, learning, or asking, discovery has no limits. 

“Boundless curiosity means deep listening, listening with patience, offering some silence, and being willing to receive rather than respond,” Director of the Middle School Elizabeth Ecker said. 

While Ms. Ecker focused on thoughtful listening as an aspect of curiosity, Frances Fondren-Bales, director of the upper school, noted that boundless curiosity can also be unlocked through asking questions and seeking to understand. Whether in a classroom or in conversation with others, “curiosity aids in truly caring for one another,” Ms. Fondren-Bales said. “We avoid jumping to judgment. When we interact with one another with boundless curiosity, we care well for one another. There is care in curiosity.” 

The Harpeth Hall community is characterized by kindness, curiosity, and individuality, and it is these values that the senior class hopes to embrace and embody as leaders during the school year ahead and as they “Spin the Mix in 2026.”