At Garden School, parents play a variety of roles—as class parents, chaperoning class trips, and of course their invaluable contributions through the PTA. Lately, we’re starting to see yet another type of involvement: parents offering their skills in ways that are complimentary to what we envision as enrichment for our students.

Last semester, for example, a parent/talented fashion designer taught an after-school course in fashion design. Once a week, she led a group of students through the stages of designing and constructing clothing, culminating in a runway show at our Winter concert. Another parent is now leading an after-school international cooking class in which students prepare a full meal from a different country each week. Before the dicing and slicing begins, students spend time learning about the country itself, taking a “tour” to the lands where pizza, stuffed grape leaves, and dumplings—among many others—are made.

Two days ago, I visited a seventh-grade Shakespeare class being taught by a parent who specializes in the staging of Shakespeare plays. The session, the first of three guest lectures by this parent, focused on The Tempest, which the seventh grade is now reading for class. I stepped in to find a classroom pulsing with energy as students enacted a scene from the play accompanied by music and choreography. Another teacher, who was observing, said that if she had been in a class like this when she was in middle school, she would have instantly fallen in love with Shakespeare! Here was an instance of the talents and skills of one of our parents supplementing and enhancing the work of one of our teachers in a very positive and supportive manner.

All of these examples are what we regard as enrichment for our students, and point to a dynamic connection between all segments of Garden School’s community. When teacher, parents and students come together to create “this fine madness,” the results can be astonishing.

This is a very interesting and thoughtful time at Garden School. As we move toward the winter vacation, here are some of activities that have taken place or will take place this week.

Today was “switch day” for grades 1,2, and 3. Every six weeks, these grades choose a theme and then mix up the classes for special sessions, i.e., either stay in their classroom or participate in the activity of one of the other grades. Today’s theme was, appropriately, Black History Month. Grade 1 made postage stamps in honor of Afro-American leaders; grade 2 read and wrote poetry; and grade 3 read the story Tar Beach. Students had a choice of which section to attend and then worked with the classroom teacher on each project.

What else? On Thursday, our grade 9–12 trip to Italy leaves for its educational journey. Students on the trip (40 of them) have a trip-related research assignment to complete before they leave and will report to the group on that particular aspect of Italian culture while they are there. Topics range from Renaissance painting to the Keats Shelley House at the Piazza di Spagna to the development and use of pasta in Italian life. This Friday, our other travel group—from grades 7 and 8—will leave for Italy and England; they, too, have assignments to complete.

And finally, we had some one-day administrative changes this week. Noah from the 1st grade was acting Lower School Principal on Tuesday; I am told he had a wonderful time working with Mr. Vogel and the Lower School faculty. Today, Ben from 2nd grade was acting Headmaster. Together, he and I visited classes, interviewed staff members, communicated with Garden’s Board, and made some plans for the school’s future. After all, Noah, Ben, and every child at Garden are the school’s future!