A Week Well Spent
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!