Head of School Community Update: May 3, 2022

Dear Bullis Families,

Spring events are in full swing. This past weekend alone was filled with lacrosse games, a JV baseball game, an impressive and moving Upper School play, "Decision Height," and magnificent Lower, Middle, and Upper School Honors Music recitals. Leading up to the weekend, I even got dunked in the Bullis Fun Fest “dunk tank.” (It was filled with balls and not water, but I would’ve done it anyway. Probably.) As we strap on our seatbelts for the wild ride that is the time between now and the end of the year, I couldn’t be more grateful for what is feeling like a much more typical spring at Bullis.

COVID

It should not go unspoken, however, that the COVID numbers in Montgomery County and, indeed, at Bullis are on the rise. Two weeks ago, we ran 999 tests and had two positive results, with an additional four positive results from off-campus testing. This past week, we ran 1,161 tests on campus and had 11 positive results with an additional 5 positive results from off-campus testing. This week we have run 655 tests so far (the rest of the community will be tested on Thursday 5/4) and have had 8 positives with an additional 3 positives reported from off-campus testing.

As a reminder, if your child tests positive for COVID, they must remain home for ten days unless they are symptom-free and test negative on a rapid antigen test on or after Day 5 of their isolation period after a COVID-19 diagnosis. Upon arrival on campus, they should go directly to the nurse’s office in South Hall to take an additional rapid test, provide their return-to-play form signed by their doctor (if applicable), and review the protocols for those who are on campus 6-10 days after contracting COVID-19. Anyone returning to campus for the first time ten or more days after diagnosis does not need to provide a negative rapid test, but, in order to return to Middle School or Upper School sports, must provide a doctor-signed return-to-play form.

Additionally, please know that our policy requiring all employees and students to be vaccinated and boosted once the FDA has fully authorized a particular vaccine or booster for their age group will remain in place next year. In keeping with CDC and AAP recommendations, we strongly recommend vaccination for anyone five to fifteen years of age. Vaccination is a prime tool for keeping our entire community as safe as possible.

College Results

More positively, I am pleased to report on the results of the college process for our outstanding group of graduating seniors. First and foremost, I congratulate them (and their parents) on navigating this process with grace, grit, and fortitude, as this admissions season has been one of the most competitive in history as evidenced by acceptance rates at the most highly selective institutions. Second, I am so very grateful to our exceptional college counselors – Lynn Kittel, Philip Weisgold, Valerie Miller, and CeCe Belcher – who have worked tirelessly with our students and families to help find the best-fit colleges and universities. Our community will deeply miss Ms. Kittel as she enters retirement at the conclusion of this school year, and we are forever grateful for her unwavering dedication to Bullis students.

Please see the list of college acceptance and matriculations. I believe it is important to publish where our students actually go (matriculate) rather than publish only the many different colleges to which they've been accepted. We can all be justifiably proud of their achievements. I hope you will join me in congratulating the Class of 2022!

Track and Field Accomplishments

I also want to offer a very hearty congratulations to our phenomenal Bullis Track and Field team who performed incredibly at the Penn Relays this weekend. Among other team accomplishments, senior Trinity Franklin continued her undefeated season by winning the shot put… by 4 feet! The girls 4x400 (Myla Green ‘23, Mirai Bernard ‘23, Lauren Leath ‘23, Sage Hinton ‘23) once again became the top finishing American team, coming in 3rd overall by running an astonishingly fast race of 3:40:88. The boys 4x400 (Luke Schroeder’22, Aidan McDuffie ‘22, Myles Pendarvis’23, Oliver Bridges ‘22) came in 2nd overall with a jaw-dropping time of 3.11.90. Congratulations to all!

Enrollment Contracts

As a reminder, enrollment contracts become binding as of June 1. If your family circumstances have changed for next year, please contact your child’s division head and the Admissions office prior to that date.

I extend my warmest wishes to those in our community who celebrated Eid-Al-Fitr yesterday. I hope everyone is able to get out and enjoy this beautiful spring weather and has a wonderful week.

Warmly,

Christian G. Sullivan
Head of School