Helen Stevens Chinitz
Head of School

Welcome to this cherished place on the mountain. At SKS, students and faculty connect with each other and challenge each other every day to do more. We care about the Gordian Knots of chemistry and math, the transit of Venus, the PCB’s in the Hudson, the short stories of James Joyce, and the character of international debates. We consider this serious fun. What is serious fun? It is having a sense of humor and of play. It is a gathering of minds to solve a challenge or an impromptu muster of creative energy. It is applauding someone else's efforts-a recital of a poem in an ESL class, solving an extra credit problem for Mr. Ribaudo or Mr. Hunt, the discussion of an essay or scoring the winning goal in a soccer game. It is helping someone else along the way.

But the greatest pleasure and excitement, however, are reserved for when you take a risk and grow. There is the risk of showing your artwork in a gallery, standing solo on stage to give your first musical performance, delivering your WWII research project as a radio broadcast in front of your peers, or doing your own rap at an open-mic coffeehouse.

True fun requires risk-taking. Therefore, at Storm King, we look at our world and know that we need, both as students and faculty, never to avoid risks, challenges and debate. We can do all this only if we connect, both younger and older among us, with all the good people up here "on the mountain." We all learn to be alert and kind, good-humored and always ready, whether for the next act or action, the next math problem or history discussion, the latest still life painting, and ultimately, for the next Frisbee flying out from behind the pines.

Along with our faculty, we urge our students to give their best, call for assistance, hang on to the end – all these things that make us stretch, bend and grow. When students participate, they are never going to be alone. Our mission is to make their journey understandable and stimulating. There is much to discover and ever more tools necessary to address the tasks essential for the fullest education of us all.

The Storm King School believes that art, theatre, music and athletics are central components of a good education and, in addition to academics, comprise a major part of the daily life of our students. Our inspirational setting, nurturing faculty and creative community stimulate students to discover their ability to become lifelong learners. Students are challenged to stretch themselves by building upon their strengths, while realistically acknowledging and improving their weaknesses. Our programs and faculty are coordinated to mentor them in this process.

All our goals revolve around being fit for the road that lies ahead, for a world needing intelligence, wisdom and generosity of spirit.

Students will move. We will inevitably be moved. The Frisbee may never land.

Helen Stevens Chinitz
Head of School