Powerful Skills

Monday morning, I started my day by attending a networking event for admission professionals, school consultants and heads of school.  It had been about four years since I had attended an event like this, the pandemic required that my attention be undivided at BHS.  Likewise, many of the other heads in attendance were only just beginning to attend events of this sort.  Throughout the morning, I was able to learn from my peers, share stories, and simply connect.   I had forgotten how powerful, and empowering, it is to build relationships with peers.

Through the Skills program, the students at BHS spend time learning how to build and develop relationships.  One way that we do this is to prepare them for interacting with new people.  We actively teach them how to introduce themselves, the value of eye contact, a firm handshake and making meaningful conversation.  Not only do we teach our students these skills, but we provide them opportunities to put these skills to work in a real way.

On Thursday night, we welcomed 18 secondary schools from the area to The Beech Hill School.  These schools were excited to share the story of their school and were looking for potential students.  I was extremely proud of The Beech Hill School students, as I watched them move about the event, introducing themselves with confidence and putting to practice all that they had learned in Skills class.  Several of the school representatives went out of their way to express how impressed they were with the quality and polish of our students.

When families choose The Beech Hill School for their children, I am not certain that they are anticipating that their child will acquire the skills to network and build professional relationships.  As I watched BHS students at Secondary School Night and as I re-learned at the event that I attended – cultivating and maintaining relationships are critical for success.  It is exciting to think that our students are getting a jump on this important life skill.

The Vibe

The word “vibe” has re-emerged into popular vernacular and that is not a bad thing.  As of late, I have been picking up on the vibe here at BHS.  Although it is rather early in the school year, and things can certainly change, it seems to me that kindness and consideration is the vibe this year.  This is not to say that past students or past years were unkind or inconsiderate, and this is a middle school after all, so there are bound to be individual acts that are less than exemplary.  On the whole, however, our community has benefitted from a series of acts that exude kindness, thoughtfulness and were just plain nice.

On the second day of school, I walked toward the front door and it looked like something was in the bushes, just to the right of the entryway.  Upon closer inspection, I discovered a piece of cardboard that had several hearts painted on it and written in pencil – in handwriting that clearly did not belong to a faculty member – was “happy 2nd day of school.”  I am not sure who created this, but in the opening days, a community member or two picked up on the vibe that led them to believe that it would be a good thing to do this at this school.  Unfortunately, the middle school that I attended, this sign would have likely been thrown on the ground and the creators ridiculed – likely for the whole rest of the year.  That is not the case at BHS, and for that I am so grateful.

Throughout the opening weeks there have been other things that I could point to – 8th graders helping 5th grader – and believe it or not – vice versa.  I have watched as the entire community patiently listens to students and faculty share long announcements at Community.  Recently, peers assisted one another to make improvements in volleyball, without anger or frustration.  And on Thursday, a student took it upon themselves to hide little plastic ducks all around the school for other students to find.  No one asked this student to do so, they just thought it might make others have a better experience at BHS, so they did it.

Perhaps we are just lucky that the weather has been so nice, and that is the secret to such a warm and welcoming start.  I am confident that plays some role in “the vibe.”  But, that would not be fair to the students and teachers that are actively contributing to all that is making our school year great so far.  I hope that this “vibe” of compassion and happiness will last long past the mild autumn days, through the bitter and dark days of winter and well into the resplendent spring

The First Days

According to Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia – “the first days are the hardest days,” and in many ways they are right.  The first days of school for new students can be a real challenge.  Similarly, the first days of school challenge the stamina of teachers and students alike, as they are coming off of the ease of their summer schedules.  At The Beech Hill School, we are aware of this and have tried to create an opening schedule that makes it easier to acclimate and find success.

Throughout this week I have been watching as our students begin the new year.  There is one thing that I have witnessed time and again this week.  When students get past their fears and anxieties and get involved, smiles are quick to follow.  For example, one student spent two days doing their best to hang on the periphery, rarely cracking a smile.  On the third day, that same student put aside their apprehension and participated in a group activity.  As their fears melted away; their smile grew, and their entire body language changed.

Fortunately, at BHS, the opportunities to engage are numerous, and the faculty are constantly looking for those students that are reluctant.  On Monday, our elective program begins, providing yet another opportunity for our students to actively engage and to find pleasure at school – and to thrive.

Xanadu

Greetings from Lexington, Virginia – home of Washington and Lee University – where I am dropping my son off for college for the first time.  I have yet to actually move him in and drop him off, so I will save my thoughts on that for another day.  What really has my mind racing, however, was a visit to Luray Caverns on the way down. 

A little over an hour’s drive northeast of Lexington is a geological wonder that is millions of years old. Discovered in the 1800’s this cavern is truly breathtaking.  When my wife suggested that we stop, I have to admit, I was dubious.  I thought this would be some tourist trap with a lame tour guide and a gift shop full of the type of stuff I would want if I were 10.  What I discovered was only half true – the gift shop was exactly as I imagined.  The caverns, however, were vast and the geological formations were truly awesome.  Around every turn, one of us would utter sounds of wonder and amazement.

To visit a site like this only reinforces my belief that curiosity is the spark that fuels the engine of understanding.  Were it not for the curiosity of the individual that noticed the air flowing out of the little hole in the ground, the caverns would not have been uncovered.  Within the caverns, geologists have found ways to understand how something so beautiful and so unique was formed.  Using mathematics, curious minds could figure out the rate at which the stalactites and stalagmites grow.  Scientists figured out what made them form in the ways in which they did.  And curious literate minds, were able to imagine how these formations could inspire one to think of mythological characters like Pluto and the underworld.  On the way out, there was a quote from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem Kubla Khan.

In visiting Luray Caverns on the precipice of starting a new school year, it has reinforced my excitement for learning and the year ahead.  At BHS, we say that students that are most likely to find success are “get-to” kids.  That is students that view learning as an opportunity – or that they “get-to.”  That spirit is the same curiosity that discovered the Luray Caverns and that can still find wonder in it today.  I am excited to be surrounded by faculty and students that embody that spirit and look forward to an amazing school year!

No Diet Pepsi on the Back 9

Recently I celebrated my 51st birthday.  I am not one that puts much stock in age, and for years would say things like, age is just a number.  But this year, something clicked in my mind about turning 51. Not unlike a round of golf, I am on the back nine of my round.  Hopefully, I am just making the turn.

With my birthday and the realization of my own mortality, I took a little inventory about some of the choices that I make in my life.  I would like to think that I lead a pretty good life, and, in general, make relatively healthy choices – with one glaring exception – Diet Pepsi.  Most teachers drink absurd amounts of coffee, but I was never a fan of hot beverages, so I turned to Diet Pepsi.  Whether it is 8:00AM or 8:00PM, it did not matter – a nice cold DP was my beverage of choice.  With my birthday, I have decided that the DP has got to go.

This may seem like too personal a reveal for a blog of this nature, but it struck me that my decision to cut Diet Pepsi and the connection to my birthday, is not dissimilar from the start of a new school year.  As the students prepare for the coming school year, they too can take inventory of their academic lives.  In the opening days, I will share my decision, and will challenge them to start the year making a conscious choice to make a change in their school lives – for some it will be to avoid speaking out in class, and for others it will be to speak more.  Regardless of the choice, occasions like birthdays and specific calendar events provide opportunities for change.