Beyond Resolutions: A Balanced Start to the New Year
The following are remarks by Mr. Danny Viotto, Director of Senior School, from Monday's Academic Assembly:
Good morning everyone, Happy New Year, and welcome back.
It’s so great to see you all again and be back at CDS. I hope the winter break gave you time to rest, reconnect, and maybe slow down —before your alarm clock went off this morning and reminded you it was time to jump back into the routine again.
At the start of a new calendar year, we often focus on what will be new. New goals. New habits. New resolutions. New things to add to our vision boards. And while growth and ambition matter, it’s just as important to remember what is already firmly in place.
Because the truth is, you are not starting this year from scratch.
You begin this year with a strong foundation—one built on core values, integrity, and character. You begin it with the support of families who care deeply about you, friends who walk beside you, and teachers and staff here at CDS who believe in you and show up for you every single day. That foundation matters more than any new resolution ever could.
Every January, we also hear the phrase, “This year will be better than last year.” But there is no such thing as a perfect year. Life doesn’t reset just because the calendar changes. Challenges will still come. There will be moments this year that stretch you, frustrate you, and test you. That doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means life is running its course.
What matters is not whether the year is perfect, but whether you are willing to stay grounded when it isn’t.
As you know, at CDS, our motto reminds us of something essential: education with balance. Balance is not about doing more—it’s about doing what matters, and doing it well. It’s knowing when to push forward and when to pause. It’s striving for excellence while staying rooted in who you are (your foundation) and what you value.
A reminder that growth doesn’t come from adding more and more to your plate—it comes from building thoughtfully on the strong foundation you already have and maybe even letting some things go.
And yes, balance also means remembering that school is important—but so is sleep, kindness, laughter, movement, and giving yourself permission to be human. Even the most driven people need rest. Especially the most driven people.
Each of you helps shape the culture of our school. Your choices, your empathy, and your integrity matter. With the foundation you already have—and the support surrounding you—there is no doubt that you will continue to grow and be successful, even in an imperfect year.
So instead of focusing only on what’s NEW this year, remember what’s already strong. Build on it. Trust it. And let it carry you forward.
In closing and as we step into this mew year together, remember this:
You don’t need perfection or reinvention—just a strong foundation, balance, the courage to keep showing up… and the certainty in knowing that you’re surrounded by people who believe in you and are walking alongside you, helping you become your best self.
Happy New Year everyone!
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
Junior, Middle and Senior Schools
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
