What does it mean to officially become a Monarch? At this year’s Accepted Student Night, the answer was found in the community—whether it was an 8th grader meeting a current student who shared the same interest or a parent getting final questions answered about what lies ahead for their child’s future. Behind the scenes, dedicated staff and student volunteers spent weeks coordinating everything that makes this night special, reflecting the school’s commitment to excellence.   

For Ms. Katherine Wesmiller, Mitty’s Assistant Principal for Admissions and Enrollment, the night holds two main goals: to create a welcoming environment for Mitty’s future Monarchs and to answer any questions these prospective students may have about school life at Mitty. The night features a sense of camaraderie between current Monarchs as they celebrate the future of the community. Mr. Daniel Sullivan, Assistant Director of Admissions, is in charge of managing current student volunteers to ensure the smooth transition of events throughout the night. He shared, “Our student volunteers do everything from taking photos with guests, answering questions our guests may have, providing them information about things happening on campus, or even giving them a tour of campus if they want to check out things further.” Monarchs provide guests with insight into the academics, performing arts, athletics, and campus ministry departments to showcase to future students the wide range of opportunities Mitty offers.

Accepted Student Night can be characterized by the shift from an atmosphere of nervous energy to one of excited energy. Hundreds of future Monarchs arrive from various schools, and the evening transforms into a moment where the stress of applications disappears and is replaced by a sense of belonging. In her interview, Ms. Wesmiller stated, “I think my favorite part about Accepted Student Night is the first time that you’re talking to students and they know there’s no anxiety about trying to get in… there’s more excited energy.” While students explore Aymar and enjoy the photo booth, the event can also be helpful in answering remaining questions for parents. While the 8th graders can focus on making connections within the student body and figuring out their interests, their parents can engage with administrators. For example, Mrs. Caputo and Mrs. Ventilla can help calm a parent’s anxiety by discussing the transition to high school and the academic placements for their children. The heart of the event remains in the students’ enjoyment, regardless of whether students are coming to Mitty with their friends or as the only students from their school. Ultimately, the event is a celebration for the incoming class of 2030 that highlights a major milestone in a student’s educational journey. 

For next year’s Accepted Student Night, organizers highlighted a few key changes to enhance the overall experience for future Monarchs. These include changing the flow of incoming students and families to create a more seamless movement throughout the night, altering the way current freshmen and sophomores answer questions about transitioning from middle school to high school, and opening up the Lion’s Den for merchandise purchases to be picked up the night of.  To expand and support an event so central to ensuring the continued success of the Mitty community, organizers of Accepted Student Night are constantly looking for ways to improve the experience of incoming Monarchs.

To both current and incoming students, Accepted Student Night demonstrates a strengthened sense of what it truly means to be a Monarch: an evening where all facets of Mitty come together to highlight the range of possibilities the class of 2030 will take part in and add to. Ms. Wesmiller concluded, “One thing Mitty does really well is highlight the kindness and spirit of our students,” traits put on display in a night emphasizing the best parts of Mitty’s community.