Good morning, Lincoln School students, teachers, and especially the Class of 2025! Welcome to a brand-new school year.
To our returning students: welcome home.
To our new students: welcome to the family.
And to our seniors: your year has finally arrived. It’s your turn to lead, to inspire, and to leave a legacy.
When I found out that the Class of 2025 had chosen Toy Story as your senior theme, I was really excited. Not just because it’s fun and nostalgic, but because it’s surprisingly wise. Beneath the laughter, the toy box, and the adventures lies a story full of truths about life, growth, and becoming.
This morning, I want to reflect on four of the film’s most powerful themes: belonging, friendship, bravery, and purpose, and how they speak to all of us as we begin this new year together.
Let’s begin with belonging.
When Buzz Lightyear first lands in Andy’s room, he thinks he’s special because of his mission, his gear, his packaging. But as the story unfolds, we see that it’s not what he is that gives him value. It’s who he’s with. It’s not being a space ranger that makes him important. It’s being part of a community. Being there for Andy. Being there for Woody.
High school can feel a lot like Buzz’s first days in Andy’s room. Like you have to prove something, or stand out, or figure everything out on your own. But the truth is, you don’t have to do any of this alone. You belong here, exactly as you are. You are part of something bigger than yourself: a class, a school, a community that learns, grows, and shows up together.
This year, whether you’re a freshman finding your way or a senior taking the lead, I hope you remember what Buzz learned: that belonging doesn’t come from being the flashiest or the best. It comes from being present, being kind, and being connected.
And when we feel like we belong, we open ourselves to one of the greatest gifts of all: friendship.
Woody and Buzz didn’t start out as best friends. In fact, they were rivals. But being thrown into unfamiliar territory—Sid’s house, a moving truck, a rocket—they were forced to lean on each other. They moved from resentment to respect, and from competition to connection.
Lincoln is a place where friendships are formed and tested. You’ll work on group projects, share bus rides, celebrate wins, and face setbacks. There will be times you disagree, drift apart, or mess up. But those challenges are often where the strongest bonds are forged. As a member of the Lincoln family, you are surrounded by people who may become lifelong friends. So take the time to build friendships that matter. Because as Toy Story shows us: when things get tough, it’s your friends who pull you through.
And sometimes, the things that make us better friends and stronger people require one more thing: bravery.
Bravery isn’t just about facing villains or flying through the air with wings that don’t really work. It’s about showing up fully, even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s about raising your hand in class when you’re unsure. Apologizing when you’ve hurt someone. Standing up for a peer when others won’t. Trying something new even when you might fail.
In Toy Story, bravery shows up in a thousand quiet ways. When Woody reaches out to Buzz despite their past. When the toys risk everything for each other. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s right.
This year, I hope you find your moments of bravery. Be the one who speaks up. Be the one who includes. Be the one who dares to care. Because at Lincoln, we don’t just want smart students. We want bold students. Students who are brave enough to grow.
And when you put all of that together—when you feel like you belong, when you build strong friendships, when you act with courage—what you find is purpose.
There’s a moment in the film when Woody tells Buzz, “You might not be a space ranger, but you are his toy. And that’s just as important.” Buzz doesn’t need to be who he thought he was to matter. He just needs to show up with purpose.
Each one of you has a purpose here. Whether you’re a freshman learning to navigate the high school hallways or a senior writing your college essays, your presence matters. Your voice, your ideas, your kindness, your effort…they shape this school and the people in it.
And so…
To the Class of 2025: you chose Toy Story as your theme, and in doing so, you reminded us all that growing up isn’t about leaving behind who you were. It’s about becoming who you’re meant to be. As you take your place as leaders this year, I hope you carry these lessons with you:
Know that you belong, and make our community stronger by your very presence.
Lean into the friendships that lift you up and challenge you to grow.
Have the bravery to take risks, speak truth, and lead with heart.
And never forget: even the smallest acts, done with purpose, can change someone’s life.
Buzz would say: To infinity and beyond!
Let us say: At Lincoln and beyond!
Let’s make this year extraordinary.
Garrenteed Learning 