Lise's Lens: May 2, 2024
On my mind this week: the collected works of Isabel Allende, the magic of CSW Reunion, and the student protests cropping up on college campuses across the country.
WHAT I’M READING
- I’m just about finished reading Isabel Allende’s novel, The Wind Knows My Name. I’ve been reading her works for a very, very long time. She is so prolific! Here are some of my favorites: Eva Luna (1997), Paula (1994), Daughter of Fortune (1998), Island Beneath the Sea (2009), and A Long Petal of the Sea (2019). If I’m doing a bit of a retrospective, I think Paula was one of the most beautiful, gut wrenching books I’ve ever read; it’s Allende’s personal experience describing the death of her daughter, Paula. It is brilliant.Still, I'm wondering about reading so many books by one author. Does it mean I’m missing out on a ton of other opportunities or stubborn about my penchant for literary fiction? Well, this may be my last Allende book. Here’s the review from NPR if you want to read it to find out more. I will say that I wish she had limited her substories or plots. Her first two characters were great and could have been developed further and that would have been more than enough.
WHAT I’M THINKING/TALKING ABOUT
- We held our annual Reunion Weekend this past Friday and Saturday and I am still glowing from the excitement. I will never tire of meeting alums, hearing their stories, and watching them interact with our campus and each other. Just this past weekend alone, I was able to hear insights and anecdotes from as far back as the 50s, and almost every decade since. It is such an honor for me to be the keeper of these stories of friendship, transformation, and inspiration. So many alums I spoke to shared how CSW was crucial in helping them overcome self doubt and find their voices, and it’s amazing to see the many ways in which they have all continued to spread their wings. The CSW alumni community is a very impressive bunch! I am so grateful to everyone who joined us on campus.
WHAT I'M WATCHING/LISTENING TO
- Like many of you, I have been closely watching all that has been transpiring at college campuses around the country as student protesters seek to make their voices heard via marches and encampments. Of course, I have been particularly interested in observing how each administration has responded to the protests. As school leaders, how can we ensure student safety and minimize disruption, while also protecting the right to free speech for our students? It’s a really difficult situation to balance and some schools have handled it better than others. I particularly liked this response from the head of school at Wesleyan University and am glad to hear that their protests have thus far remained non-violent. This has not been the case everywhere, which has been heartbreaking to watch.
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
As part of Reunion, alums from the Class of 2004 organized a Boat Dance Revival party in the Fit, featuring special guest, former Head of School Jane Moulding. What a great idea!
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.