Back on Campus: PC Welcomes Students and Faculty at Opening Assembly

On September 8, 2026, the Penn Charter community gathered for its annual Opening Assembly to celebrate the start of the new academic year. The event brought together students from Lower, Middle, and Upper School, along with faculty and staff, for an inspiring morning centered on school community, exploration and new beginnings. Paul Hough, Clerk of the Board of Trustees, welcomed everyone and introduced Senior Class Clerk Vivek Patel for his address.

Senior Class Clerk Address: "At Penn Charter, Everybody Can Be Somebody"
Senior Class Clerk Vivek Patel welcomed the community and thanked faculty, board leadership and school administrators. Vivek emphasized the supportive atmosphere that defines Penn Charter. "It’s a place where you can play a sport in the fall, be on stage in the winter and run a club in between, all while being surrounded by teachers and students who want to see you succeed..."   To highlight the breadth of opportunities available at Penn Charter, Vivek led an interactive activity with the Class of 2027. Asking seniors to stand in order of their participation in athletic teams, theater productions, independent studies, club leadership, public purpose work and community service, the entire senior class remained standing by the end. Vivek shared tailored words of advice across every division: Lower School: Stay curious, explore interests, and make new friends. Middle School: Take advantage of opportunities to challenge yourself and grow. Upper School: Explore new paths of growth, whether in the arts, athletics, or student organizations. Seniors: Keep supporting one another and embrace the year ahead.

The a cappella group, Quakers Dozen, then performed the song "The Road Home" by Stephen Paulus.

Interim Head of School Dennis Bisgaard lastly welcomed everyone to Penn Charter’s 337th academic year—highlighting its legacy as the oldest Quaker school in the world—and reflected on the school's vibrant, diverse community as a realization of William Penn’s founding vision. As a newcomer in his third week on campus, Bisgaard shared his personal connection to feeling new alongside more than 150 incoming students and staff, emphasizing the importance of Quaker values, deep listening and kindness. Centering his message on this year's school theme, Peace Through Action, Bisgaard explained that peace is not merely quietness, but an active commitment demonstrated through everyday choices.

"Peace is not just about being quiet, it is something we do," said Bisgaard. "Peace can look like inviting someone to sit with you at lunch. It can mean standing up for someone who is being treated unfairly. It can mean listening when another person sees or interprets something differently than you do. It can mean apologizing when you have caused harm—and then doing what it takes to make things right again. It can mean noticing the person who is standing alone."

He challenged students across all divisions to remember three core principles—notice, include, act—reminding the community that even small ripples of compassion and inclusion can shape the entire culture of the school.

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