On the first day of school, September 5th, the Middle and Upper Schools gathered in the Legacy Gym for the first assembly of the school year.

Head of School Audrius Barzdukas prefaced his opening remarks with a moment of silence for the victims of Hurricane Harvey. Barzdukas then commemorated the 100th year anniversary of Poly on the Dyker Heights campus and the 40th year anniversary of coeducation at the school.

He spoke about his love for reading and proceeded to read “Oh Me, Oh Life” by Walt Whitman. Barzdukas emphasized the importance of a “we are here” mentality, and how positivity is integral when faced with negativity. Then, he read a verse from “The Sky’s the Limit,” a song written by the Notorious B.I.G. Barzdukas reiterated the necessity of having a positive outlook towards life.

“We get to write our own verses,” Barzdukas said. He compared the two artists by stating how they both understood that seeing the good in the world would make the world a better place. Barzdukas encouraged the students to be leaders like Whitman and B.I.G., who were both kind and compassionate. “Together, we can be a better school,” emphasized Barzdukas.

Following this, Middle School Senate President Max Feigelson began his speech with humorous remarks on the rules of Poly. He then proceeded to welcome the new students at Poly and stated his goal of bringing hot sauce to Commons. Feigelson spoke of his intention to make everyone feel as if they are contributing to making a difference, and that he would send emails, surveys and polls in order to gather the opinions of the student body. He finished his remarks by telling the 8th grade to make the most of their final year of middle school.

Next, Upper School President Shakaa Chaiban spoke about the bittersweet nature of the first day of school and how a new year is welcomed with an open mind. He addressed each grade, telling the freshmen to not be afraid to ask for help, the sophomores to work hard, and the juniors that the hard work pays off. He ended his speech by addressing the senior class, telling them to cherish their experiences and to live without regrets. The assembly ended with the Poly tradition of the seniors singing the Poly Song to the fifth graders.