Jane's Pocket Change: Musical Chairs with Blindfolds, Fractured Fairytales and Personal Responsibility

In less than a week our students have jumped into their studies with both feet and our classrooms are abuzz with learning: questioning, wondering, constructing, analyzing and smiling.

In less than a week our students have jumped into their studies with both feet and our classrooms are abuzz with learning: questioning, wondering, constructing, analyzing and smiling.

Last Wednesday at our first full assembly, the assembly coordinators organized a giant game of MCWB (musical chairs with blindfolds). Apparently it is now a tradition at the first full assembly—who knew? I have never seen 400 people have so much fun, laugh together, scream with joy and eventually watch a new student (Liam Baxter-Healey ’18) win the game. Wow, so many close calls.

On Sunday, as the culminating event in all-boarders weekend, each of our four dorms presented their fractured fairy tale—a truly long-standing tradition going back at least 20 years. Dorms are given a certain set of required references to work with, they may choose a tale of their own liking and off they go. Aleph Dorm performed their version of “Jason and the Argonauts,” the Barn Dorm chose “The Princess and the Pea,” Warren House presented “Beauty and the Beast,” and Trapelo Dorm won for their version of “Jack and Jill,” and were awarded the coveted “stick,” created by Andrew Murdock ’08. On the stick the initials VOIC are carved, indicating CSW’s devotion to Voice, Integrity, Respect and Community. Certainly a high point for me was watching two students pretend to be my two dogs and a third (new to CSW) student imitating my British accent, extremely well.

And finally in this jam-packed few days, a story I heard from a teacher today. In advisory groups they were going over some key areas of our student handbook to ensure the guidelines are clear to students. The teacher asked his advisees: How would you describe the values of the school (on which our handbook is based); apparently they pretty much came up with, in slightly different words, our mission. But wait they said, there’s one more thing CSW teaches us: “personal responsibility.”

Pretty packed few days; days to feel proud and good. Thanks to our students, always, who simply know how to build a strong community.

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Pocket Change is a web diary written by Jane Moulding, head of school.

The Cambridge School of Weston is a progressive high school for day and boarding students in grades 9–12 and PG. CSW's mission is to provide a progressive education that emphasizes deep learning, meaningful relationships, and a dynamic program that inspires students to discover who they are and what their contribution is to their school, their community and the world.