Jane's Corner

Head's Message: Connect and Create

As head of school, I delight in watching connections being made: the connections between and among students and teachers, and the connections among teaching colleagues. It is this creative synthesis that feeds the dynamic nature of our institution. These relationships happen naturally and easily, and they readily form the basis for the kind of innovative programs and curriculum development that are hallmarks of a Cambridge School of Weston education. Teachers and students work together in integrated learning offerings, such as Food and Culture, The Art of Prediction: 19th and 20th Century Historical and Scientific Philosophy, MathArt: the Order of Expression, Documenting Spring Flora and Wetlands, and Dimensions of Time. Creating the atmosphere and setting for students to make these connections, and thus form the synthesis that takes learning to a new level, stands at the heart of what we do as a progressive school.

In this same spirit of connections, CSW is pursuing a unique approach to the design and realization of its new proposed science and art building. The Green Building Committee began meeting over a year ago in what has evolved into a collaborative and energizing planning process. Under the leadership of trustee Cary Hewitt (parent of Mattie Eisenberg, '99 and Ned Eisenberg, '04), the committee has grown in the way a good class does, learning together and moving forward. First, the committee members — students, staff, faculty, trustees, current parents and friends of the school – launched into a new learning curve when they met with integrated design consultants and architects to learn about sustainability. The acquisition of this knowledge helped the group learn more about effective planning and smarter building. In short, the process became stronger and more wise.

Through presentations, meetings and discussions, and mindful collaboration, the committee was able to lead members of the school community from an elementary understanding of "green building" to a more sophisticated sense of regenerative design and implementation.

This past summer, CSW sent out requests for building proposals to sixteen architectural firms. Based on the return proposals, the list was narrowed down to three finalists: Architerra, Inc. from Boston, HMFH Architects from Cambridge, and William Maclay Architects from Vermont.

Then came the truly integrative piece of the planning process. On Sunday, September 26th, the Recital Hall in the Mugar Center for the Performing Arts buzzed with excitement, as the three architectural firms chosen as finalists were invited to participate in a "mini-charette." All finalists had a range of experience in sustainable design, as well as the design of science facilities and art galleries. The Green Building Committee's goal for this day was to create a live, working session open to the whole CSW community. Designed to evaluate how the members of these design firms would connect to our community and forward the mission of our school in this project, the mini-charrette engaged the participants in an exciting array of interactions, from a walk around the proposed site to a hands-on effort with building blocks of accurate scaled-down size. As one parent leaving the workshop was heard to say: "I learned so much; this is such a forward-thinking school."

I am pleased to announce the process resulted in an excellent outcome for the school. Architerra, Inc., a vibrant innovative firm, is the chosen designer.

And so, my delight in watching connections signals a deeper strand of meaning and a broader context of importance: this is truly our community at work. By bringing many kinds of learners together, we all benefit. "Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted…." wrote E.M Forster, in Howard's End. As CSW strives to build a building that can stand as an icon of our connections, the links between science and art, science and other disciplines, stand out, passionately. Part of the enduring vision of the founders of The Cambridge School of Weston is the belief of educating for democracy. Seeing this belief renewed and affirmed through the planning work leading to our new building design is powerful. It confirms who we are.

Jane Moulding, Head of School