Lise's Lens: September 26, 2024
This week I’m thinking about the long history of a beloved game, the stress of parenting, the transformational impact of teachers, and the excitement of fall sports. I’m also looking forward to seeing many of you tomorrow at Fall Family Weekend Class visit day!
WHAT I’M READING
- I loved this story about Dungeons and Dragons! I also love the fact that the game is alive and well at CSW. I don’t know what shocks me more — that I was a teen when the game started or that it’s still going strong 50 years later! I vividly remember when I first heard about D&D and saw my peers playing. I had just arrived in the United States for a one year stint at Newton South High School and the game was way beyond my comprehension. What I could understand, however, was the joy and excitement clearly happening around the game. I also understood that those who played couldn’t get enough of it, and that their parents didn’t really have a clue what was going on. Here at CSW, it’s typically a Friday night event in the Slounge. I’ll be dropping by in the next few weeks to hear what our students think of the fact that over 50 million people have played the game and to ask what the impact of the game has been on CSW players.
WHAT I’M THINKING/TALKING ABOUT
- I’m sure many of you have seen this story about the stress of parenting in the New York Times. If you haven’t, here’s the opening statement: “In his recent advisory on parents’ mental health, the United States surgeon general, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, said out loud what many parents might have only furtively admitted: Parenting today is too hard and stressful.” While much of the article discusses the concept of “intensive parenting”, what really caught my attention was the comments about how lonely parenting can be. As we prepare to welcome families to campus this weekend, I am reminded of the many ways CSW faculty and staff partner with and support families; and how families respond to and repay their commitment. I’m grateful to be at a school where raising informed and engaged young people is a team sport!
WHAT I'M WATCHING/LISTENING TO
- I know that people like (or hate!) Instagram for a variety of reasons. One of the reasons I appreciate it could very well be a source of annoyance for others. In a bizarre way, I like how it curates my feed (important note: this is not my source of world news!) and brings me things it thinks I might enjoy. I also find it useful that these suggestions often start as snippets with an option for more. This link is one such example. The post is in French, but the storyline is universal — it’s a piece about Camus and Louis Germain, the teacher who changed his life. Here’s to the teachers around the world — and at CSW in particular — who change lives.
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
Fall sports are in full swing here on campus! While it’s exciting and inspiring to see our student athletes in action, I also love seeing my hardworking (and fun!) colleagues supporting them from the sidelines.
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.