It’s been increasingly evident that our values were due for an update. Not only are the Mission & Values posters adorning the walls of our campus fading and showing their age after nearly two decades on display, but the language doesn’t accurately reflect where we are as a school today, and some of the core values that are central in fulfilling our mission are missing entirely. 

Over the past few months, as I’ve been reflecting on and charting our path forward to heal and grow from the challenges around school culture our community has navigated this past year, it became clear that increasing our moral clarity as an institution and reinforcing the values of the School needed to be among our top priorities. So this fall, our senior leadership team, representing departments across the School, launched a thoughtful and streamlined process to update and elevate our values statement to ensure it fully conveys everything we do and aspire to as an institution and a community. After several rounds of iteration, the team’s work was further honed through feedback from the Executive Committee of Menlo’s Board of Trustees and then presented to the full board and our faculty and staff. 

Today, I’m pleased to share our revised values statement with you and ask for your partnership in bringing it to life. My hope is that it feels familiar and authentically Menlo and that you recognize the throughlines from our former values statement: a commitment to ethical behavior, purposes larger than ourselves, and an engaging academic program that stretches students to explore widely and think critically. I also hope you notice the increased emphasis on school culture, belonging, student support and well-being, and an aligned school-family partnership, all of which are vital—and nonnegotiable—in fulfilling our mission. 

Beyond replacing those faded posters around campus, this process has allowed us to crystallize and amplify what defines us as a school. After all, this is about much more than just wall decor or web content. As a values-driven institution that holds its members to high ideals, these values guide everything we do, shaping who we are as a community and who our students are becoming. So please give this updated statement a careful read, discuss it as a family, and join me in living these values in all areas of the School. 

I extend my sincere appreciation to everyone who helped shape this work, both directly and indirectly. I’m proud to be part of a community centered around these ideals and grateful for your partnership. This is us, Menlo. This is what Knights do. 

In Partnership,

Than Healy
Head of School