Dahlem shared impressive admission statistics, including a 32% admit rate (220 admitted from 677 applications), and highlighted the overall diversity of the student body. He commended Director of Enrollment Yassine Talhaoui and his team for their tremendous work. He also showcased outstanding college admission outcomes for the Class of 2025, with 98% of students applying early and a 78% Early Decision/Restrictive Early Action (ED/REA) admit rate. This demonstrated strong demand for Rivers students in the college admissions process. Additionally, Dahlem noted the geographical diversity of the colleges chosen by Rivers students and praised the efforts of Dave Lyons ’99 and the college counseling team. Displaying a list of colleges where students in the Class of 2025 have already enrolled, Dahlem remarked, “I love this list. It’s long, and it should be, because we have unique students and a very individualized college counseling process.”

Board President Alan D. Rose, Jr, ‘87, described four key objectives that the board and its committees prioritize: upholding the mission, supporting the head of school, approving long-term strategic plans, and maintaining a strong financial foundation.

Chief Financial Officer Jon Wasserman ’88, P’18, ’21 provided a detailed overview of the school’s financial position, emphasizing the importance of the endowment. He noted its impressive growth from $465K in 1988 to $43M in 2024, alongside annual giving. While the growth is significant, Wasserman explained that much work remains. He discussed the various revenue streams supporting the 2025 budget and the allocation of resources, emphasizing the four levers used to optimize the student experience: enrollment, tuition rate, philanthropy, and endowment draw.

Interim Director for Development & External Relations Meret Nahas delivered a comprehensive update on philanthropy at Rivers and outlined the pillars of the school’s development efforts: The Rivers Fund, Capital Gifts, and Gifts of the Endowment and Planned Giving. “With the new strategic plan launching this spring, we will have a clear roadmap for the future,” said Nahas. “One that builds on our strengths and sets ambitious goals for what lies ahead.”

Head of Middle School John Bower P’31 and Head of Upper School, Assistant Head of School for Program, Melissa Anderson P’25, ’25 discussed curricular and program innovations, as well as Rivers’ ongoing commitment to student well-being. Key priorities include cohesion of the academic program across grades 6-12, leadership development, technology, and mental health. The two divisions—Middle and Upper School—are “firmly aligned in how, why, and what we teach,” and there is a joint effort to use resources wisely, create a strong foundation, and strengthen the academic program to provide students with even more opportunities to explore, create, and grow.

Dahlem outlined the timeline and inputs to the strategic planning process that include a market research study, the AISNE Self-Study and accreditation team visit, and a Strategic Design Summit. Further strategic plan development will continue, leading to final approval by the Board of Trustees (projected for June). Dahlem walked through the findings of the various inputs and shared a preview of the emerging strategic priorities, beginning with a reaffirmation of the school’s commitment to its grounding philosophy of Excellence with Humanity.  

Three overarching priorities followed: Building on our Tradition of Innovation; Creating an Ecosystem of Connection, Well-Being, and Belonging; and Focusing on Lives of Purpose. Dahlem shared examples of initiatives under each that together will advance the academic program, invest in the professional community, increase health and well-being resources, grow the endowment (particularly in support of financial aid), elevate institutional equity, and enhance campus facilities.