Bosland Shares Insights from Her First Year at NCS

National Cathedral School Head Susan C. Bosland called her role the "best job in the world" in a State of the School address to the NCS Parents Association on March 4, where she shared impressions from her first year on the Close. Bosland's talk took place nearly a year after she first addressed the PA, as incoming interim head of school; last fall, the NCS Governing Board named her permanent head.

 

"The academic program offered at NCS is superb," Bosland noted, referencing the dedicated faculty and staff who "are experts in their field and are willing to go to the mat for every student." She added that the scholarly level of discourse in classes has impressed her, and she praised a curriculum that shapes students who are skilled in writing, reading, listening, speaking, and thinking critically. "Course choices are extraordinary," she added. The English department offers 26 electives, and the math and science departments will offer new courses, multivariable calculus II and neurology, next fall. Additionally, 26 percent of NCS students will have taken more than four years of science in the Upper School by the time they graduate.

 

Bosland also highlighted visual arts and musical offerings at NCS, adding that one of her favorite experiences from the fall was attending the Visual Arts Fellowship Reception, where the student-fellows displayed their summer art projects. "The art rooms are always humming," she said. "And anyone who has heard a performance in the Cathedral, I am convinced, leaves changed."

 

Similarly, the athletics department has produced exceptional results. "Our students value health and fitness, and our Athletic Center is awe-inspiring," Bosland said. The vast majority of students in Middle and Upper School play two or more sports, and the level of competition is high—200 NCS students have gone on to play collegiate sports since 2000.

 

Because of this high level of performance in all areas of student life, "it is paramount that we think about how to integrate balance," Bosland said. She described a recent meeting with the senior class in which students expressed a desire for, among other things, flexibility and fun. "They want us to help them to pause, which I thought was beautiful," she said.

 

"We know each child," Bosland continued, praising the number of adults who connect with students on a daily basis: teachers, advisors, counselors, grade-level deans, the school nurse, college guidance counselors, chaplains, coaches, peer tutors, peer advisors, and more. "What we continue to work on is how to encourage students to reach out to trusted adults," she said, adding that it was also the work of adults to remain vigilant to the needs of each student.

 

Bosland presented markers that show NCS is a strong and healthy school: a diverse student body, with 44 percent students of color; high enrollment and fundraising numbers; a 4 percent student attrition rate; and financial aid that supports 19 percent of students.

 

"We are unique," Bosland said, referencing NCS's special relationship with the Cathedral, the coordinate program with St. Albans, a national reputation, and specialized programs such as vestry and choristers. She also nodded to Science Olympiad, the hackathon ("the only hackathon by girls for girls in the D.C. area"), Middle School Intersession, Lower School's Discover D.C. Day, and the wealth of guest lecturers available to students.

 

Bosland highlighted the growing health and wellness initiatives on campus. NCS recently hired a new chef and remains focused on "maintaining a culture of healthy food." She described how the school is intentionally emphasizing mindfulness and said that many classes begin with a moment of quiet reflection. "We focus on the whole child," Bosland said, in reference to student life programming such as the Center for Ethical Leadership and Service, community service opportunities, global travel, diversity initiatives, and more.

 

Environmental sustainability at NCS remains strong due to investment in a geothermal heating system in Woodley North and the installation of high-efficiency boilers. Over the last decade, electrical use has been reduced by 70 percent in gym spaces. Non-food waste has gone down by 70 percent and food waste by 90 percent. "We're taking this seriously, and you'll hear more about this soon," Bosland said. She also highlighted safety improvements on campus, including the rollout of a new visitor sign-in system called Visitu.

 

In the midst of college-acceptance season, Bosland emphasized how NCS prepares its students for the future and credited the College Guidance staff for its diligence as students receive acceptances into the top colleges in the country. "More importantly, we are very interested in finding the right match for every student," she said.

 

Bosland concluded her address by thanking the Governing Board and parents for their continued support.

 

"As you can see, my whole family has truly embraced the Close community," she said, as a photo of her grandchildren running across the Cathedral lawn appeared on-screen.

 

Governing Board Finance Committee Chair Mariana Bush also presented at the State of the School meeting on the budget and finances of the school. Tuition and fees provide most of NCS's revenue, and Bush added that a larger endowment—a priority in the 2018-2023 Strategic Plan—would allow for more flexibility in the future.