Head of School Nov 10, 2023
As we near Thanksgiving break, the pace of school life always seems to accelerate.
Many thanks to all of you who made time to attend the fall Parent Teacher conferences. This is an important opportunity to strengthen our partnership as we share perceptions about students’ progress. It is our hope that students will take this opportunity to reflect on their successes in the opening weeks, and, where necessary, to use this feedback to adjust their approach and maximize their learning.
On Monday night at the Upper School Athletic Awards, we marked the end of a very successful fall season, as, after drawing a quick breath, our student athletes and their coaches gear up for a winter feast of basketball, swimming, indoor track, bowling, and squash.
With the Middle School fall play coming up next weekend, the performing arts faculty is also launching rehearsals for the annual winter holiday programs.
In the wake of the sixth grade’s interdisciplinary Creepy Critters Day and the seventh grade’s exploration of Native American life in Code Talkers, the eighth grade students had a chance, this week, to experience life in the Upper School, visiting classes and surveying the results of fall Personal Challenge Project sharing. Dozens of Upper School students presented their Challenge Projects, a signature independent study program which gives students an opportunity to explore, in depth, a new intellectual interest.
On Monday, thanks to the generosity of two of our families, the Upper School was treated to a performance of “label●less,” an engaging jukebox musical created by Cincinnati natives, Drew and Lea Lachey. The lively production explores some of the challenges facing adolescents, including stereotyping, discrimination based on race, gender, or sexual orientation, sexism, fear of school violence, body image, eating disorders, isolation and loneliness, and other mental health challenges. As part of our on-going commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive community, the musical’s message of compassion, acceptance of differences, and the dream of a more inclusive, “labelless” world resonated powerfully with our Upper School students. For a more detailed description, see Matt Bolton’s column in this issue of The Blast.
Finally, as of this writing, virtually all of our seniors have filed at least one college application, most of them for Early Decision or Early Action. Now they wait, expectantly, for the news that will trickle in between now and the holiday break.
I hope all is going well for you and your family. I will look forward to seeing you at one of the upcoming events!
Christopher Garten
Head of School
Key Dates & Events
November — Native American Heritage Month
Wednesday, Nov. 15 — Board of Trustees Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 21 — Thanksgiving Break begins at 3:15 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 22-Friday, Nov. 24 — Thanksgiving Break. No School.
Monday, Nov. 27 — School Resumes