Grandparents and Special Friends Day

These remarks were shared at Grandparents and Special Friends Day on Nov. 21, 2025.

Lots of love for OES. Good morning, everyone. Thank you all for being here on this special day. My name is Michael Spencer, and I have the honor of serving as Head of School. As we prepare to head into Thanksgiving break, today we are grateful for and celebrate all of you—Grandparents and Special Friends. This is a morning filled with joy, good food, warm conversations, and most importantly, a wonderful musical program showcasing the talents of our students.

Today, you’ll see the classrooms and the spaces where learning comes alive, and I hope you’ll sense something deeper—what truly makes OES unique. This more than just a place of education; it’s a vibrant, joyful community grounded in the values of inquiry, compassion, and connection. 

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to join a group of Middle and Upper School students to hear a presentation by the Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzhai. You may remember her story from years ago in 2012 when she was brutally attacked by the Taliban and then chose to stand up and speak out against injustice. Her activism and personal story inspired millions around the world, an example of a young voice standing up to face corruption and defend human rights. In her talk last weekend, she shared a more personal picture of her struggles as a young person: to fit in, to cope with her anxieties, to navigate the complicated world that is real life. She shared very relatable stories of a young person seeking to discover her true self and the difference that she could make in the world. 

It was inspiring for some of our students to hear her speak. It was inspiring for me, and it reminded me of the deep hope that is part of the OES mission: to educate students to realize their power for good as engaged citizens of the world. I think that discovering your power for good, does not happen overnight and it never happens alone. It is a process of discovery, learned over time with peers, family, mentors and friends in community. The discovery happens here, in classrooms filled with remarkable teachers who focus on cultivating independence and excellence, inquiry and insight, action with compassion, and goodness with purpose. As our students grow, they discover that power for good – doing their best as people for others. 

Realizing this mission takes a village. And you are all an essential part of this good work. Each of us has our own story, our own moments when we realized our power for good. They may not be as dramatic as Malala’s, but they are there. I encourage you to share them, maybe during this Thanksgiving break, with your children and grandchildren. It is our stories that will inspire. 

One of my favorite sayings comes from the wisdom of the Native American Hopi elders. It contains some questions and some reminders. 

Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?

Know your garden.
It is time to speak your truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other…

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

Those are good words for all of us. Malala did not wait around for someone else to stand up. Instead, she stepped forward, she spoke out, she realized her power for good as an engaged citizen of the world. We hope for the same for all of our students. They, we are the one’s we’ve been waiting for. In a world so often disconnected, we can cultivate and nurture the gardens of home and school, creating connections across generations. Thank you so much for being here today. This event may happen just once a year, but please know that you are always welcome at OES as a very special part of this school family.