Some summers have their own rhythm. They allow time for slow mornings, long afternoons, and evenings that stretch lazily into the night. This was not one of those summers.

I knew as far back as March that this summer would be different. That was when my role and responsibilities shifted, taking on more than I had carried before. By the time school ended in May, I was already preparing myself for a season that would be far from quiet. From the very first week of June, the pace never let up, and before I knew it we were counting down the days to a new school year.

How the summer began

In late spring, I stepped into the role of acting registrar in addition to my responsibilities as Director of Technology. We were lucky to hire someone internally to take on the registrar position, but training did not happen until early July. So for the first part of the summer, I was doing both jobs.

Summer is already my busiest time of year at the school. There is a lot to do in a short amount of time. Departing teachers return their equipment, student devices need to be collected, transcripts need to go out, new sixth and ninth graders need their devices, and any major technology projects have to be finished before school begins. This year, we also completed a major wireless upgrade. All of that was happening while I was still carrying the registrar workload, and I often felt like there was no pause in sight.

The first week of Minecraft Camp

In the middle of this, we held the first week of Minecraft Camp in mid June. I have taught for years, but this was my first time leading a camp for students as young as third grade. Minecraft Camp draws a very diverse group of kids, many from other schools, and quite a few are neurodivergent. I welcomed that. It is one of the things that makes the camp so special. But it also meant I had to bring not just my technical and classroom skills, but also patience, empathy, and a lot of emotional flexibility.

The first few days were exhausting. By Thursday, I had found my stride and the camp began to flow. The kids were engaged. The server was running smoothly. My son Thomas, along with his friends Bennett and Emerson, worked as assistant counselors and helped things run better. By Friday, we had accomplished a lot and the kids seemed to have had a great time. But each day still ended with me completely spent. Erika will tell you that when I got home, I looked like I had given everything I had. Because I had.

A trip to Orlando

Not long after camp ended, it was time for the Finalsite University conference in Orlando. The conference is focused on our website and the content management system that runs it, and I attended as many sessions as I could. Some were incredibly helpful. Others less so.

Erika and Thomas came along for the trip. The hotel had a nice pool, and they enjoyed the days while I was in sessions. I am not a theme park enthusiast. Crowds, long lines, expensive food and drinks — none of it usually appeals to me. But on the last day, I joined them at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I have to say, it impressed me. The level of detail was extraordinary. Walking through the Star Wars area felt like stepping into a movie set, and Rise of the Resistance may have been the most incredible attraction I have ever experienced. We even bumped into our friends the Parkers, shared a snack, and went through part of the park together. It ended up being one of the highlights of the summer.

Fourth of July

We spent the Fourth of July at the lake and invited the Flowers family to join us. They rarely get to make that trip, so having them with us felt like a gift. We swam, boated, and spent time on the water the way we usually do in the summer. On the night of the Fourth, our neighbors put on a fireworks show that was anything but small. For thirty minutes, the sky lit up with huge bursts. It was beautiful, but almost overwhelming in its size and length. Still, it is something I will remember for a long time.

The administrative retreat

After the holiday, I returned to town for our administrative retreat. These retreats are a time for all the directors to meet and talk about the big picture. We think not just about the coming school year but about where we want the school to be in three, five, or ten years. Normally, we go away for this retreat and spend a night somewhere together. This year, we stayed in town.

For our evening gathering at the Head of School’s house, he asked if I would be willing to grill kebabs for dinner. Some might find that stressful, but for me it felt like a relief. It gave me a single, focused task that I could enjoy. The chicken was perfectly tender. The steak kebabs were cooked to a range of doneness to suit everyone’s preferences. The evening turned out to be a pleasant time with good food and good company.

Limited time at the lake

Most summers I spend over a month living at the lake and commuting into town when I need to. This year, I had only two separate weeks there. Even so, the time was meaningful. Being able to enjoy the lake with my family is something I do not take for granted. While I wish I had been able to spend more time there this summer, I know I will have a chance to make up for it later in the year.

The second week of Minecraft Camp

Our second week of Minecraft Camp went even better than the first. Erika joined me this time, and she brought Emmy Lou, the service dog we are currently training. Emmy Lou was a comfort to several of our neurodivergent campers, giving them a calm presence during the day. Erika is also excellent with people, even if she doubts that herself. Her presence helped the camp run more smoothly and kept the stress level down. By the end of the week, we were already thinking about doing it again next summer.

Returning to full school mode

Now I am back in full back to school mode. Even with the registrar in place, schedules have taken up much of my time this week. I have been working twelve to fourteen hour days, getting schedules finished, completing the wireless upgrade, issuing equipment, and tying up loose ends. We even had help from Evan Parker, Bennett’s younger brother, who worked with us for a week and got to see just how much goes into preparing for a new school year.

There are still two very full weeks ahead, but I wanted to take this moment to look back before the summer fades entirely into memory. While it was not the quiet summer I had hoped for, it was filled with moments I will carry with me. Time on the water with my family. Kids lighting up at Minecraft Camp. The smell of grilled kebabs in the evening air. And yes, even a day at Disney that managed to win me over