As I settle into my first year as head of Carlthorp School, I am overjoyed to join a vibrant community. Serving as Head of School and getting to know the extended Carlthorp family has exceeded all expectations.
It has been an honor and a privilege to join a talented group of educators whose passion and commitment know no bounds. We have asked a great deal of our faculty and staff this school year and over the past 19 months, and yet they arrive each and every day with a smile on their faces, love in their hearts, and the drive to fulfill the mission of Carlthorp School.
Carlthorp School provides a strong academic foundation in a diverse and nurturing school community that emphasizes respectful values, responsible work habits, and excellence in order to prepare our students to achieve their highest potential in education and life.
Teachers help students strive for excellence, not perfection, emphasizing the importance of risk-taking, a growth mindset, and learning from mistakes without worry or concern for failure. Rigorous academics, including foreign language, are balanced with music, art, drama, service learning, and physical education. Accelerated classes challenge the gifted, and specialists make learning fun for everyone.
One cannot wholeheartedly get to know a school without considering every aspect. From the faculty and staff to the student and parent community, to our alumni and parents of alumni, every member of the Carlthorp family shapes our community. Our parents have welcomed me with open arms this school year. Their partnership, flexibility, and patience throughout this year have been invaluable in allowing us to continue to provide our students with the best possible academic and social/emotional experience while ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all. The grace with which they have offered feedback and suggestions has illuminated that we are a school where all, not just our students, value the Code of Conduct. We are a school that believes in the importance of partnership and collaboration between school and home and strives for parent involvement whenever possible.
Finally, it has been an absolute pleasure to serve our students. They are kind, they are courteous, they are respectful, they are intelligent, and they are so much fun! My favorite times of day are when I have the pleasure of engaging directly with our students, and they never cease to amaze me with their wit, wisdom, confidence, and glee.
We hope that the pages of our website provide you with a glimpse into the magic of Carlthorp School, including our rich history and the legacy of our founding educators, Miss Thorp, Mrs. Granstrom, Mrs. Menzies, and Mr. Kusserow. Ultimately, our goal is to matriculate joyful learners who are nurtured academically, socially, and emotionally by our highly qualified faculty and staff.
Please reach out to our school office to set up an appointment to visit if you’d like to explore the possibilities for your child attending Carlthorp.
Warmly,
Nola-rae Cronan
Head of School