“Third grade is the first All-School Assembly that I clearly remember,” announced Student Body President Isabel M. ’15 to all 13 grades as well as faculty and staff members at this year’s first All-School Assembly at Brick Church.

“I still recall sitting in my appropriate [seat] at this inaugural event for the year 2005-2006 and feeling so comfortable—comfortable with the girls neighboring me, comfortable with the friendly teacher faces stationed along the aisles and comforted by the buzz of conversation ringing throughout the church.”

During the first full week of school and just a few days after the first day, Kindergarten students accompanied by the Grade 12 class, the “bookends of our school,” officially opened the assembly as they processed down the main aisle of the church, saluting the start of the new year with Spence’s annual and poignant tradition.

Head of School Bodie Brizendine welcomed students and faculty, wishing all a “happy new year” before introducing the theme of this year’s assembly, “Home Sweet Home,” with her own thoughts on the word home.

“Home is not a building,” Brizendine shared. “It is a feeling, a sense of the past that knows no walls.” Her sisters, dotson dogs and books all evoke that sense for her.

Different voices echoed Brizendine’s sentiments, including faculty and staff definitions and personal accounts of home: “I’ve had 18 ‘permanent’ addresses,” said Naledi Semela, Spence’s Communications Manager, to the audience of more than 800. “So for me, home has very little to do with a location. There’s the people who make me feel at home, there’s the traditions of my homes…There’s no place like home, because my home is not a place. Lucky me, I am always home, or homeward bound.”

Lower, Middle and Upper School students also presented, responding to questions such as “What do you do first when you get home?” and “What do you miss the most when you are away from home?” Additionally, a Triple Trio performance of the national anthem as well as The Spence School Song brought teachers and students to their feet to sing in unison and celebrate the start of the year.

Before closing, Isabel imparted her feelings on coming back to Spence for another year: “Once the time finally comes to enter those Red Doors, I always become beyond excited. It’s the joy in returning to ‘home sweet home.’ We are the members of this dynamic and caring household.”