And here is the first team of President, Vice President and Secretary of Class for the 4-5's. Their election process was terrific - from the Bubble Gum Party to the Peaceful Classroom and the Black and White Parties, everyone got involved in a dynamic exercise about government.
I just returned from three days with other Heads of New York independent schools. We had thought provoking speakers and discussions about the state of public schools, from the most challenged, to the most challenging. The perils of a system geared towards meeting testing standards seem almost overwhelming. We discussed kids who want to learn, but the schools aren't teaching them, and on the other end of the spectrum kids under so much pressure to perform that they become sick.
As an independent school believing that positive and caring connections between and among students, teachers, and parents is the most important foundation for learning, we function on a very different premise. We are so fortunate that wonder, discovery, and delight are our baseline. Our teachers believe in every child and his or her own amazing potential - and the students thrive.
We heard from Ned Hallowell who wrote Finding the Heart of the Child and The Childhood Roots of Happiness. My next reads!
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