Lise's Lens: February 15, 2024
The increasing importance of human skills in the workplace, the meaning of Valentine’s Day, and delightful jazz music are all on my mind this week!
WHAT I’M READING
- My colleague Tara in the Admissions Office shared this New York Times opinion piece with my about the importance of human skills in the age of AI. It makes me think about parents and guardians who are wondering about the best high school choice and college choice for their student. It also demonstrates the increasing value and importance of a CSW education. We are at an inflection point in so many ways, particularly with the increased power of generative AI; many of us still don’t know its full potential, or the impact it will have on the workforce. More than ever, we have to be lifelong learners and thinkers.One comment from the article drew my attention: “Employers will need to be educators not just around A.I. tools, but also on people skills and people-to-people collaboration… Major employers are already exploring ways to put A.I. in the hands of employees so they can spend less time on routine tasks and more time on personal engagement with customers.”I am also pondering this line quoting Minouche Shafik (president of Columbia University) who says: “In the past, jobs were about muscles. Now they’re about brains, but in the future, they'll be about heart.”
WHAT I’M THINKING/TALKING ABOUT
- This year Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday landed on the same day. For some folks like me, it was a day to celebrate; my dad was born on Valentine’s Day. But it was also a day to mourn the passing of an important mother figure to me. Both are matters of the heart, and it’s amazing how our hearts can be a vessel for love, grief, and mending all at the same time. This Instagram post spoke to that so well I thought I’d share it. (Thanks @tillystrauss for this post!).
WHAT I'M WATCHING/LISTENING TO
- The Gann Academy Jazz Ensemble — with the help of a few familiar faces from CSW — put on a spectacular performance at our assembly this week. They performed an ecclectic selection of music bringing together all different genres. The set list is pasted below for those who are interested. I particularly enjoyed the last piece they performed — a hybrid Klezmer-Mambo arrangement. Many thanks to Music Chair Michael Weinstein, and Gann Academy Music Director Aaron Kula for making this happen!1. “Bo Yiddly” Arranged for Jazz Band by Chaim Rubinov2. “Don't Get Around Much Anymore” by Duke Ellington and Bob Russell, Arranged for Jazz Band by Michael Sweeney3. “I Got Rhythm” by George and Ira Gershwin, arranged for Jazz Band by Eddie Santer4. “Fly Me To The Moon,” words and Music by Bart Howard, arranged for Jazz Band by Michael Sweeney5. “Mambo Frailach,” original klezmer tune by Alexander Olshanetsky (1892-1946). Aaron Kula arranged it to fit a Latin Mambo groove.
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
Here’s a photo from the stellar jazz performance this week! Can you spot the CSW faces?
Campus News
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Photography Teacher Anne Rearick Releases New Book
Photography Teacher Anne Rearick has release a new book of photograpy, Gure Bazterrrak (Our Land). Published by the Deadbeat Club Press, the book will begin shipping this winter and will be available during Paris Photo at Polycopies, Porte de Solférino.Read More -
Anny '28 Wins International Film Awards
Read MoreThis past summer, Anny ’28, worked as executive director and cinematographer for two documentary films titled Shaolin Youth and Confined, earning multiple international awards for her efforts.Anny, a boarding student from China, spent her summer filming Shaolin Youth in the Shaolin Temple, a thousand-year-old temple, where she focused on different groups of Chinese teenagers, showcasing China's special martial arts program and the impact it can have on the growth of teenagers from low-income families. The film focuses on the stories of underserved families and troubled teenagers in rural China who are hoping to change their fate by learning martial arts, showing the dedication and love these teenagers have toward martial arts, and the influence martial arts can have on a person's growth. -
CSW Welcomes Students from Panama
Read MoreLast week CSW welcomed 12 students from C.A.D.I. Bilingual Academy in Panama, where our students spent some time during the mod abroad trip to Panama in mod 5 last school year! They were joined by C.A.D.I.'s Director and administrators. During their visit from October 17-21, 2024, they stayed with CSW host families and attended classes with student ambassadors. -
Mod Break Wilderness Trips are Back!
Read MoreMod break Wilderness Trips are back in action with the first one taking students to the White Mountains! During the 3-day trip, students were split up into two groups based on student preference. The introductory group made its foray into the Kinsman Mountains with History and English teacher/Wilderness Trip Guide Aidan Wang, while the advanced group tackled Mt. Garfield with Science teacher and longtime Wilderness Trip Guide Kevin Smith.
Meet CSW Students
CSW—a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12—is a national leader in progressive education. We live out our values of inquiry-based learning, student agency, and embracing diverse perspectives in every aspect of our student experience. Young people come to CSW to learn how to learn and then put what they learn into action—essential skills they carry into their futures as doers, makers, innovators, leaders, and exceptional humans who do meaningful work in the world.