Insight: What do Thermogenesis and Admissions Applications Have in Common?

By Cheryl Schenk, Director of Enrollment Management 

Even with newly fallen snow, spring has sprung around the Puget Sound region. Amidst the still-short, darker days and the challenges of end-of-trimester finals in late February, crocuses and daffodils emerged, and cherry trees began their bloom.

Diving more deeply into thinking about the early signs of spring, the algorithms happened to match me with a video about thermogenesis in plants. Just like our bodies’ metabolism produces energy, there are plants that metabolize as well as photosynthesize! Along with plants like snowdrops and skunk cabbage, compact and colorful crocuses metabolize glucose so effectively as to increase their surrounding temperature enough to melt snow.

These powerful, bright heralds of spring are an apt analogy for our new enrollment. A process that took root in the autumn involves waiting patiently over the winter months. Now, the seasonal shift in our enrollment happens as we see our EPS community growing. Upper School decisions were released on February 20, with Middle School decisions soon to be released on March 20. By the time we welcome the youngest Eagles to our nest, it will officially be spring.

I’m grateful to all of the careful ‘gardeners’ who took time to ponder and investigate over the colder, quieter months of winter. Many thanks to our Admissions Committee members for their deep dives into the vibrant lives and stories of our applicants and their families. Many thanks to all those students and families who have waited, and continue to wait, patiently. Here’s to celebrating our warm and ever-renewing community.