These pages highlight the ways our campus, curriculum, and community help students live out the motto of our founding Head of School, Frank Hackett: “Put the other fellow first.”

When I first joined the Riverdale community, I was immediately struck by the fact that our faculty sees their role as going far beyond helping students develop their intellect and academic skills. They model good citizenship and provide feedback to students on how they’re showing up in class and interacting with their peers, not just how they’re performing in a particular subject. I’m proud that Riverdale prioritizes providing experiences for students that help them think of others, develop empathy, and fulfill our mission’s promise to change the world for the good.

I am grateful to follow in the footsteps of my friend and former colleague from The Lawrenceville School, Dominic A.A. Randolph. Although character has always been a significant focus of a Riverdale education, Dominic, in his work with Marty Seligman, Angela Duckworth, and the Character Lab, among others, helped the broader community understand that developing character strengths is both an individual and a collective pursuit and that it is best done in an active, experiential way. 

School can’t just be about studying math or analyzing literature; it is about gaining a deeper understanding of yourself through engaging in interactive experiences. QUAD showcases this in action, from our focus on campus stewardship through initiatives like our Hill Campus Freight Farm and our annual waste audit, to our deepening partnerships with organizations like the Waldo Sanctuary migrant-housing residence, to the restructuring of our STEM program through which students tackle real-world science questions rather than focusing on rote memorization.

By sending graduates into the world who understand the value of building bridges and making connections, we ensure that Riverdale’s impact is felt for generations to come. Thank you for reading these stories of growth and connection.

I hope to see you on campus soon!

Kari Ostrem

Head of School