Lise's Lens: October 24, 2024
This week I have been tuning into the UN’s Global Summit on Biodiversity, reading theories about the polarization of the United States, and marveling at the magic of international travel and exchange. I'm also getting excited for our Admissions Open House this weekend! Know someone who might be a good fit for CSW? Invite them to join us!
WHAT I’M READING
- These days opinions abound, and I have taken a bit of a break on reading opinion pieces. However, I did fall upon a piece by David French titled “I Don’t Want to Live in a Monoculture, and Neither Do You” that intrigued me enough to read it to the end. In the piece, he references a college course he is teaching this year called “Why Is American Politics So Insane?” In creating the syllabus for the course, he says he debated whether to have his students read Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam or The Big Sort by Bill Bishop. Bowling Alone, he says,“highlighted the collapse in communal activity in America and how that loss of connection is driving an immense amount of our national polarization and pain.” The Big Sort “highlighted the fact that Americans were increasingly living in like-minded communities and like-minded communities radicalize us.” I haven’t read either book, but they sound like excellent sources as we navigate these polarizing times.
WHAT I’M THINKING/TALKING ABOUT
- As you might have seen in The Gryphon magazine, last spring a group of our students attended a trip to Panama (an opportunity that presents itself every two years) for a mod abroad studying Spanish and conducting research on tropical ecosystems. Whether it was an “aha” moment about their capacity to appreciate something new, or the surmounting of a fear or anxiety, it’s clear that the trip ignited a special “spark” in each of our student travelers. This past weekend, we had the privilege of providing a similar experience for a group of 12 students and their chaperones from CADI Bilingual Academy, the school our students visit while in Panama. This was the first time we’ve been able to return the favor, and it filled me with so much pride to be able to open up our community to them. I am so grateful to the students and parents who opened their homes for a homestay and made this truly possible. Gratitude all around!
WHAT I'M WATCHING/LISTENING TO
- I have been trying to tune into the United Nations Biodiversity Cop 16 Conference — the very first that will include indigenous people at the center. This is so important, as these groups are often the most affected by biodiversity loss, while at the same time being responsible for the stewardship of so many species of flora and fauna. The conference is taking place in Colombia, so to honor the event, the country released a version of their national anthem that includes native birdsong. Take a listen and read the story behind it. Pretty cool. A pygmy owl. Who knew? It has an amazing song!
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
Our Admissions Open House is this weekend! Faculty and staff have been hard at work getting everything ready and campus looks gorgeous! Now we just need the beautiful fall weather we’ve been having to stick around a little longer!
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.