The Class of 2027 is ready to ‘take it to 11’

By Ava Rumsey '25

The Class of 2027, adorned with rock ‘n roll T-shirts, groovy glasses, and inflatable guitars, stormed down the theatre aisles, marking this year as one of enthusiasm and spirit where they will — in a reference to the senior class theme and famous rock mockumentary “This is Spinal Tap” — take everything to 11 in 2027.

Opening Convocation always marks the beginning of an exciting new school year and celebrates the coming together of all members of the Harpeth Hall community.

This year, Opening Convocation did more. It set the tone that this school year is a celebration of the 75th anniversary of Harpeth Hall on this campus, our school’s journey of “Making History” in the world of girls education, and Head of School Jess Hill’s final year at Harpeth Hall.

Acknowledging this momentous year, Ms. Hill reflected on the power of words to shape our school’s history. “Words tell us who we are and… become our most effective tool,” she said. “They can form our stories and become our history.”

Leading the school into this milestone year was the Class of 2027, whose glam-rock senior theme, “take it to 11”, embodied the senior class’s emphasis on determination and school spirit. Mac Callen, student council president, explained that “taking it to 11 means to go all out. And when it comes to the Class of 2027, we always go all out.”

The Class of 2027 has brought passion and enthusiasm to all of their years at Harpeth Hall, dominating in food drives, protesting playground changes, and always showing up for one another. Mac promised that this year would be no different. Harpeth Hall could expect the Class of 2027 to bring “more energy, more spirit, and more noise all year round.”

Voicing her love and appreciation for the Harpeth Hall community, Mac revealed the “2026-2027 HH setlist” during her speech, assigning each class a classic rock song that matched their stage of the Harpeth Hall journey. Together, the “signature sound” of Harpeth Hall is created by each student’s unique beat and the harmonies that emerge when the community comes together.

That idea of every class contributing to our school’s shared story carried into 8th grade speaker Lilly Farley’s remarks. When diving into what this school year’s theme, “Making History,” meant to her, she echoed Ms. Hill’s emphasis on the power of words:

“It’s about writing our own stories to tell in the future… Every day spent as a student becomes another page, and every school year becomes another chapter. …Those stories,” she explained, “are woven into something far more meaningful, the story of our community.”

Middle School Director Elizabeth Ecker ’00 explained that this story, Harpeth Hall’s history, is long and powerful, from the beginning of all-girls education in Nashville at Ward Seminary in 1865 to the founding of Ward-Belmont in 1913, and now, for the past 75 years, Harpeth Hall. She declared that it is “our tremendous responsibility and honor to continue building the legacy of this special institution.”

Throughout Mrs. Hill’s tenure at Harpeth Hall — from math teacher to upper school director and now head of school —she has done just that. She has honored our school’s legacy and left her own lasting mark. In her Opening Convocation speech, Mac chose a special rock song, “Heroes” by David Bowie, for Mrs. Hill and the faculty at Harpeth Hall: “Thank you for guiding all of the girls in this room into the young women we are becoming.”

Upper School Director Frances Fondren-Bales’ take on “Making History” was to recognize both the grand milestones of our school and, more importantly, the moments “that are only identified as such with the gift of time and perspective.”

The Class of 2027 doesn’t know if their mantra, “take it to 11,” will be remembered beyond their senior year. When Mrs. Hill became Harpeth Hall’s head of school, she didn’t set out chasing a legacy, she simply sought to lead the school because she believed in the mission, the faculty who uplift it, and, of course, the girls who live it.

That, Ms. Fondren-Bales pointed out, is how history is made. Not by seeking a legacy, but by people “passionately pursuing what they think is right.” Now, as Harpeth Hall enters its 75th year on this campus, and its last under Mrs. Hill’s leadership, the senior class will inspire the entire Harpeth Hall community to take this year “to 11,” and let history write itself.