A Quarterly Reflection from Dr. Anne T. Weston ’73

At Ashley Hall, each day brings new moments of discovery, connection, and growth. In this installment of The View from the Head’s Office, Head of School Dr. Anne Weston offers a window into the ideas, conversations, and experiences that shape the journey of every Ashley Hall student.

Strength in Community, Confidence in Growth

By Dr. Anne Weston

As we step into a new calendar year and ease ourselves back into the routine of life at Ashley Hall, I want to begin by wishing you a very happy New Year and thanking you for your continued commitment to our School. This season of transition—from rest back into rhythm—offers a natural moment to pause and reflect on the strength, spirit, and shared purpose that define our community. 

Over the past few months, I have had the special gift of spending extended time with my own adult daughters. Watching them step more fully into themselves has been a powerful reminder of what it means to raise strong women—and how fortunate our students are to be surrounded by families and educators who believe so deeply in their potential. You are helping to build the future for a generation of brave, thoughtful, capable young women, and it is a privilege to partner with you in that work.

Across every division at Ashley Hall, I see that future taking shape each day. Our students are growing in confidence, curiosity, and character—supported by faculty who know them deeply and challenge them to reach their full potential. It is a joy to watch our girls progress through each stage of their Ashley Hall journey, developing the skills, self-assurance, and sense of purpose that will carry them forward.

Recently, I sat down with the Ninth Grade Student Council and asked them a simple question: What do you love most about the Upper School? Their answers were thoughtful, honest, and remarkably aligned. They spoke of community and support—of feeling known and valued. They shared how relationships expand in Upper School, as they mix more across grades and within their own class, and how they are met with an appropriate level of challenge that stretches them without being overwhelming.

Again and again, they returned to the importance of their relationships with teachers—relationships built on trust, respect, and genuine care. At Ashley Hall, those connections are foundational. Our faculty understands how to spark curiosity, guide students through moments of uncertainty, and help them develop the confidence to work through challenges independently. That combination of high expectations and unwavering support is, I believe, what truly sets the Ashley Hall experience apart. More of the same sentiments were beautifully captured in a recent Upper School video, which was created to support the current admission season as we work to attract new students to the Upper School. I hope you’ll take a moment to watch it and that it helps you understand how special the Ashley Hall experience truly is for our students. 

In conversations, classroom visits, and quiet moments across campus, I see students taking intellectual risks, advocating for themselves, collaborating, and asking the kinds of questions that signal deep engagement. They are not only preparing for college; they are preparing to lead lives of empathy, resilience, and purpose. As Head of School, nothing makes me prouder.

During the break, my family spent time walking along the beach and beside a forest stream, and we found ourselves returning again and again to the image of flowing water. With my daughter Sarah’s permission, I’d like to share a reflection she wrote—it has stayed with me as we move into this new year:

A river is always moving, never in the same rhythm twice. Some stretches rush. Some slow to a crawl. Some carve open the earth. Some reflect the sky so clearly it feels like another world. And yet the flow never stops. A river does not live in the past or the future; it exists in its present motion. In so many ways, life asks the same of us—to stay present, unencumbered by what has been and with courage to face what lies ahead. We can let ourselves flow as a river. Together. With curiosity. With tenderness. With abandon. With intention.

As we begin 2026 together, this is my hope for our community—that we continue to move forward with intention and openness, grounded in our shared values and confident in the strength of our relationships. Ashley Hall is a place where girls challenge themselves, lift one another up, and are guided by educators deeply committed to their growth. It is a place where each student is known and valued, and where every young woman is encouraged to become the strongest version of herself.

Here’s to the year ahead—and to the extraordinary learning, leadership, and connection that continue to unfold at Ashley Hall each day.

Dr. Anne T. Weston ’73
Ashley Hall Head of School