Lise's Lens: February 29, 2024
I am reading about the history of Spelman College, thinking about our seniors affected by FAFSA delays, and watching amazing footage from deep within the ocean.
WHAT I’M READING
- I was immediately drawn into historian and activist Elisabeth Griffith’s substack issue about the history of Spelman College. She was inspired to write the piece after news hit that Ronda Stryker, a white woman, had pledged to make a $100 million gift to the school — the largest-ever single gift to a historically black college or university. The article goes into the importance of supporting women’s education and “the possibility and power of interracial alliances.” It has been really exciting and inspiring to see women, specifically, making these large philanthropic gifts — like Ruth Gottesman’s $1 billion dollar gift to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx.
WHAT I’M THINKING/TALKING ABOUT
- I have been thinking a lot about our graduating seniors — many of whom are already (or will soon be) facing significant backlogs in receiving critical aid offers from colleges and universities due to delays associated with the rollout of the new FAFSA form. The college application process is nerve-wracking enough without such delays, and so I really feel for our students and families who now feel like they are in limbo. Thankfully, it seems as though most schools are adapting their decision deadlines accordingly. Still, I can only imagine how difficult it has been to have to adjust expectations and wait longer than anticipated. Uncertainty can be really hard to grapple with.
WHAT I'M WATCHING/LISTENING TO
- I was moved and amazed to watch this footage from a recent deep sea expedition off the coast of Chile. A highly specialized, deep sea diving robot was able to discover over 100 new species. It’s incredible to think about the richness of these unseen worlds that exist on our own planet. There is so much negative news about marine life these days, and so it was nice to stumble upon this glimmer of hope and excitement.
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
Thank you to Emma Fedor for sharing her experiences on book writing and publishing with our students as part of our CSWrites series. If you haven't yet done so, grab a copy of her novel At Sea (Gallery Books) for your next read.
Campus News
-
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.