Ever drive by an old building and wonder about the stories it could tell? Or the story behind a tradition? Or the stories behind people you come across? 

By nature we are inquisitive. We want to know the story. 

And we all have a story to tell. This year the all-school theme at Loomis Chaffee centers on storytelling. 

“We will be creating opportunities throughout the year for storytelling within the Loomis Chaffee community, on the Island, and beyond,” Head of School Jody Reilly Soja said in a message to the LC community in August.  

One such opportunity is Chapel Talks, which will take place once a month beginning on October 9. Members of the community will share a story or play a musical piece around a common theme. The event will be at 7 p.m. in the Chapel, followed by a reception at the Head of School's House. Those who would like to participate are asked to email Mrs. Hayes (hannah_hayes@loomis.org) to share a little bit about your piece.  

“My hope is that the Chapel Talks will be a great way to highlight our school theme [this year] — ‘The Power of Storytelling’ — and to continue to build community on the Island,” Jody told students, faculty, and staff at the opening-of-school convocation on September 9.    

Another such opportunity is the first convocation of the year on September 30, when Max Stossel will be on campus to talk with the school community.  

His story? Mr. Stossel is a poet and filmmaker recognized by Forbes as one of the best storytellers of the year. He has performed “Words That Move” across five continents. He also is the chief executive officer of Social Awakening, which seeks “to help teens, schools, and parents thrive in this digital world,” according to his LinkedIn bio. He says he founded the company to help manage the impact of technology and social media in today’s world. 

Teachers across the curriculum have been thinking about how to incorporate the storytelling theme. 

Each year Orchestra director and music teacher Netta Hadari does a composition project with the Orchestra “so the students feel they are creators and not just interpreters,” he explains. 

Last year the project was movie trailers. “This year, they will be writing music for children’s stories,” Netta said. “Simple children’s stories like The Very Hungry Caterpillar, for instance. They would create the music and narrate that story at the same time.” Students will be able to use the music lab and some of the school’s new electronic instruments to complete the assignment. 

The Writing Initiatives program’s theme this year will be “point of view, and hopefully that will serve as a nice complement to the school theme,” said the program’s director, John Morrell. “I'm working on a collaboration with the Visual Arts Department as part of that, and I have a few other ideas floating around.”  

Narrative accounts figured prominently in this year’s all-school read, which students and faculty completed over the summer. Each participant could chose either a specific nonfiction book, fiction book, podcast, or documentary. The piece of nonfiction was How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth, a leader in the modern storytelling movement.  

The author of that book wrote, “When you choose to share a story, you share a piece of yourself. Stories explain your heart, decode your history, decipher who you are, and translate it all to whoever takes the time to listen carefully. … They’re both ordinary and exquisite. Stories are the currency of community. They tear down walls, unite cultures, and help people realize they are more alike than different, all while celebrating what is unique to you.” 

A year of hearing and telling stories awaits. 

Jody is eager to hear as many stories as possible in her first school year here. 

“As someone who is new to the community, this theme selection is a gift,” she wrote in her August message to the LC community. "I plan to spend a year listening to the stories of Loomis Chaffee — the stories of individual community members past and present, the stories of Loomis’ traditions, and of course, the rich history that builds the foundation of this institution.” 

Once upon a time there was a family with a vision ...  

“The Loomis Institute was chartered in 1874 by five siblings who had lost all their children and selflessly determined to found a school as a gift to the children of others. ... Their story continues to resonate in a remarkably contemporary, even timeless, way,” reads the school website.  

Yet another chapter is being written in the 2024–2025 school year.