(These words were made to the school community during the Upper/Middle School Parents Night on 8/27/15)

Dear Prep Community,

My name is Eric Wojcikiewicz and I am Chairman of the Hilton Head Preparatory School Board of Trustees. This is my first year as Board Chair and I appreciate the opportunity to communicate on behalf of the Board. As we return this year - after another summer that just flew by - I have warm feelings returning to this place once again. It reminds me how this place became a home to us - how this place quickly became and remains a home for us. Like any other home - and family for that matter - it has its ups and downs, its joys and challenges. As my youngest returned this year - with some trepidation - it has served as another time for me to reflect on what this place is and what it has been. We all want the best for our children and it can be difficult to discern what exactly that is sometimes - especially when my girls - and I am sure its not just the girls -  spend a great deal of time complaining. It is very much a challenge that we all face as parents to sort through the general malaise of the teenager and try to figure out what is really going on. Well, I have a little more insight into this now in my case. My daughter Marisa graduated in 2014 and did her share of complaining while she was at Prep. We moved her when she was a sophomore and that was difficult - I don't want to minimize that. We all got involved quickly, my wife and I and the girls, and right away felt accepted. It was still difficult though, and remains to this day in some ways. I can say though, that when my daughter comes back from college the first thing she does is come back here to campus. She comes to see friends she made, who supported her in that transition, and she comes to see the staff and teachers that made such a positive impact on her. She will say she couldn't wait to leave - and that is the way it should be - but now she also can't wait to come back and touch base with this place that became her home.

            So even as we celebrate all that we already do and do well - we can't lose sight of the fact that, as they say - "the only thing that is constant is change". Every year this place is different. There are going to be changes this year and in the years to come in response - not only to the changes on the island and in the economy overall, but changes we initiate to strengthen Prep's competitive position going forward. We are working to understand these external forces and anticipate their effect, but there is only so much we can do in this regard. We also have to accept that things will happen and we must react. The Board, Administration and Faculty are in the process of reworking the vision, mission and core value statements. These statements of who we are, who we want to be and how we are going to get there are a living document and will continue to be revisited yearly. These statements will serve as guideposts and reflect many of these anticipated changes. The statements are also very clear in their direction and intent. As I said before, I HOPE there will be many changes this year and the next as we leverage the expertise Jon has brought, the dedication and excellence of the faculty and the diligence and vision of the Board. As we all take this journey together, there will be many questions and maybe even some concerns. The ideals set forth in the developing vision, mission and core value statements, we take very seriously - they set a high bar and Prep expects to be held to this high standard. So to that end, it is reasonable for any stakeholder to express those concerns to Jon, myself or any other Board member. I do ask in return though, that we always keep a clear eye on the challenges that the school faces, understand that not all problems can be solved over night and discuss your concerns within the world as it is, not as you wish it was. Being relatively new to the school as many of you are, this is our 5th academic year, I have seen many changes in just those few years. Looking back on it though, most of those changes were responses to external factors that the school had very little control over. Combine that with instability at the top and the last decade has been a challenge. I will say, this being my 3rd year on the Board, I have been very impressed with the Board's dedication and the quality of the decisions the Board has made. Previous Boards have stepped into the void and have acted as committed stewards and even administrators when necessary. Prep is in a much better place today, and positioned well for the future as a result of the tough work of the last few years. Under Jon's leadership, with Tina and Darcy as division heads, the school is in a great place to move forward and the Board will assume its more proper and traditional role of strategic planning.

            Now, time for a little Board housekeeping. First, I would like to address anything you might have heard regarding Prep's involvement with Heritage Academy. Prep is the premier education provider on the island. The sports academy model is well established, will continue, and is likely to expand into other offerings. Prep would not want to get into the business of tennis or golf instruction any more than the sports academies want to get into the education business. This leaves us as natural partners. Prep is close to finalizing a consulting agreement with Heritage Academy which will serve two important purposes. It will continue to build upon the good working relationships we have with the sports academies, and make Jon's expertise available to Heritage Academy. The two schools will continue to operate as they do now, separately offering different schedules for different needs, but Prep is always looking for ways to diversify our revenue base and thereby strengthen our offerings for all students. Second, I am pleased to announce that Jon has accepted an offer to extend his contract for two years, through June 30, 2018. I can't say enough how pleased the Board is with the job Jon is doing, and how excited I am to know he will be here for years to come. Finally, it is exciting heading into Prep's 50th year. We have a year packed full of exciting community events. This year will give us an opportunity to revisit where Prep has been and celebrate the exciting future ahead of us. Building that future is the work of the entire Prep community. As you can see, part of our future is already on display with the many improvements made to the campus over the summer. We have much more we need to do and would like to do. As a celebration of Prep's 50th anniversary, we are rebranding the Inspire a Mind Fund as the Prep Pride Fund. The Prep Pride Fund will be raising money specifically for the important projects that will put the school on a solid path heading into the next 50 years. Money raised this year in the Prep Pride Fund will go toward professional development for the administration, faculty and staff - it will go toward technology, scholarships, arts and athletics. So please, we encourage you to give to the Prep Pride Fund. A gift to the Prep Pride Fund is the best way to insure these important priorities are funded. These initiatives are crucial to move Prep forward and realize our goal of becoming a world renowned educational institution. An investment in these programs will bear fruit every day in the lives of our children. All of these initiatives relate directly to the experience our children will have on campus and in the classroom. So please, consider a gift to the Prep Pride Fund.

            With the classroom in mind, I would also like to say a few words about our faculty. I am very pleased to say our faculty is getting stronger and stronger each year. As is highlighted in several areas of the developing vision, mission and core value statements - everything we do depends on students close and meaningful interaction with excellent faculty. Prep can be proud that it is able to attract and retain such a professional and exemplary group of educators. Our students have much to learn, in and out of the classroom from the instructors here at Prep. I encourage parents to get involved in the learning. I invite you to work with the faculty to get the most out of your children's experience. An important way we can all help - if there is an issue that matters to you and your student, consider encouraging your student to engage the teachers and administration themselves. The ability to advocate for themselves is an important life skill. This small environment we enjoy is a great laboratory for this very thing. This is a great opportunity for them to model this behavior that will be crucial to their success in college and beyond. We won't be with them forever, and these sorts of learning opportunities are some of the most important things Prep offers.

            I know that I am excited about the coming year. The Board pledges to keep the lines of communication open. I am eager to see what year 2 of Jon's tenure brings. This place in which we live is dynamic and entrepreneurial, and that is the spirit that Prep will bring to bear as we all move forward together. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Eric Wojcikiewicz
Chairman, Board of Trustees