Lise's Lens: October 10, 2024
That’s a wrap on Mod 1. Thank you to everyone for a spectacular start to the school year. From the stage to the classroom to the playing fields, the drive, passion, determination and joy on display from our students has been a pleasure to witness and I am so proud.
WHAT I’M READING
- As you may recall, I told myself that I wasn’t allowed to read until I’d finished unpacking the boxes from my recent move. Well, I finally did it. I can read now! The next dilemma was deciding which book to pick. To aid in my decision, I headed over to our very own CSW Library, which has a thoughtful, active, and vibrant book collection. After some back and forth I chose Godwin by Joseph O’Neill.
This book entered my pool for a few reasons. First, I had never read anything by O’Neill, but read great reviews of previous books. Second, it only very recently came out, so I knew little about it except what I’d heard in a quick audio review. Finally — and most importantly — it purportedly went deep into a history of soccer and the status of the current soccer world. I’d also heard that the author was well traveled and the settings would be globally inclusive, with much of it taking place in Pittsburgh, PA (where I lived for five years when I arrived in the United States). All of that turned out to be true. Maybe it’s me, but I did think it was a little cliche at times so the verdict is: it’s a good plane read or travel book. Now I’m ready to choose the next one!
WHAT I’M THINKING/TALKING ABOUT
- I am thinking about all of the work “A Board,” our student Advisory Board, has been doing to develop a proposal for a more formalized school policy on cell phones in learning spaces. This is a huge, highly contentious topic in schools everywhere, and I am really proud of our students for having the drive, patience, and maturity to take this on. Yesterday, in assembly, A Board hosted a discussion, where community members were invited to come up to the microphone and share their thoughts on the matter. It was a respectful, well-run discourse that taught me a lot about how our students feel about this issue — what their fears and anxieties are, and the role that we as adults play in mitigating these things.
During this exploratory phase, members of A Board have also been collecting community data via surveys, and examining literature and studies on the impact of technology in the classroom. While I, and members of the administration, will have the final say on what the policy is, it is so important that we factor in student voice in a sincere and meaningful way, and I am proud that we are doing just that. I am excited to see what kind of proposal eventually makes its way to my desk! I will keep you posted as things progress.
WHAT I'M WATCHING/LISTENING TO
- In case you missed it, today during lunch the Jazz Ensemble put on a stellar performance featuring the music of Pat Metheny. I just marveled at the talent, joy and vibe of the group. We have a few “veteran” (class of 2025) students and a few students in their first year here, who are already so invested in the music scene. And it always brings a smile to my face to see Michael and Gustavo playing alongside our students.
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
The classes of 1970 through 1972 got together on campus last weekend and had a blast. It is heartening to see how close and connected they have stayed over the years, and they loved having the chance to witness the CSW of today by meeting students, sitting in on classes, and offering a master class of their own around music and activism in the 60s and 70s. Cal ’25 even got the chance to perform with some of the alums (photo below!). Click here to catch a glimpse of Cal's performance.
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.