Posts
Designing our Unified Campus
As we conclude our three-year “Unification Trilogy,” the focus of our work is expanding from Early and Lower School projects to all-school ones. Call it the “unification ripple effect.” I’m […]
Do We Even Need the Internet? Ask the Middle Schoolers!
In October, the Middle School play “The Day the Internet Died” had us in fits of laughter as we watched pre-teen and teenage actors satirize how we’ve all grown so […]
What Authentic Struggle Teaches Us
Even though it’s been over 25 years, I vividly remember working on my master’s thesis project, which examined the role of L2 language acquisition through independent reading. I reviewed previous […]
Support Through the Struggle
“I can’t do this.” “It’s too hard.” If you’ve heard these words at home, you’re in good company. We hear them at school, too. Middle School brings new challenges, greater […]
A Partnership for Growth: Discipline, Restorative Practice, and Trust
Discipline, Restorative Practice, and Our Partnership with Families When we talk about discipline in the Lower School, we start with the word’s root: discere, which means to learn. Children between […]
Before Reading Begins: How Pre-k Children Build the Foundations for Literacy
As I walk through the hallways and classrooms of our Early School, I am reminded every day that learning to read and write begins long before a child picks up […]
我们学校的中国之行 (Our School Trip to China)
Last May, I had the great privilege of traveling to China with a group of Seven Hills Upper School students and teachers. What an adventure we had! Exploring the megalopolises […]
Commitment to Community: Students Helping Students
In mid-September, I caught senior Will Stock walking into Upper School before second period. Not just walking, but walking tall with a smile so big I knew something great had […]
When an Alpaca Shows Up at School
On a Friday in September, I walked out the door next to my office and looked into the face of an alpaca. After 30 years, some elements of school have […]
What a Cup of Beans and Rock, Paper, Scissors Taught Us About Belonging
Each year during our sixth grade retreat, before students head to Main Event for a day of food, games, and fun, I lead them through an activity we call the […]
Going Beyond the Lesson Plan: Building Classroom Communities
In my first month at Seven Hills, I spent time in the classrooms at Doherty and Lotspeich. While sitting in a music class or kindergarten, I discovered that what is […]
Ready to Learn: The Changing Meaning of School Readiness
What does it mean for a child to be ready for school? For many years, school readiness was primarily thought of in academic terms, such as knowing letters and numbers, […]
The Importance of Early Childhood Education
After more than 30 years in education, spanning both early childhood and elementary school leadership, I find myself at a transition point. At the end of this year, I will […]
Tip of the Iceberg: Looking Beyond the Surface
One of the most important questions Middle School students begin to wrestle with is simple, but not easy: “Who am I?” It doesn’t always come out directly. Instead, it shows […]
Reflections on Alumni Weekend
“The campus is transformed, but it’s still my school.” That’s a sentiment I heard again and again over the course of our recent Alumni Weekend. For alumni coming back to […]