Lise's Lens: October 5, 2023
This week I reflect on Fall Family Weekend, listen to heartfelt stories about fellow educators, and dive into a fascinating (but also disheartening) read about mosquitos.
WHAT I’M READING
- Growing up in Haiti, we had respect for mosquitos in the sense that they were powerful, and though they were tiny flying insects, their bites could have enormous impacts on our bodies and well being. I caught Dengue and had incredible fevers and aches. Then a few years ago, Chikenguya came along and scared us all. My sister got it… she said she felt like she was very old and arthritic on top of the fatigue and aches. Most recently, she caught Malaria while living in Sierra Leone and it was no joke.
This recent article in the Globe was fascinating to me as I didn’t realize that much of the progress we as humans have made in our fight against these disease carrying pests has not only stalled, but reversed. Apparently mosquitos are highly adaptable. Not only are they now resistant to our insecticides but they are even changing when they bite. Some researchers say that we could save ourselves a lot of trouble by ensuring that everyone learns and is able to drain standing water and move homes away from swampy areas. Screened windows and secure walls and roofs would also help.
WHAT I’M THINKING/TALKING ABOUT
- I am still on a high from our first ever Fall Family Weekend. This was a big endeavor for our school to take on for the very first time, and every single member of our faculty and staff played a key role in making it happen — in spite of the less than optimal weather! A highlight for me was hearing parents and guardians gush about how impressed they were by the caliber of teaching and learning that goes on in our classrooms. So many of you described it as “captivating” and on par with college level coursework. I am also really glad that the rain held off on Saturday so that we could hold our fun run and engage in outdoor activities, like painting empty bowls and enjoying some face paint. I was also really proud to see our students educating and advocating on behalf of our many community partners at our community engagement fair in the Fit.Every “first” is a learning experience, and our various teams are already debriefing on how we can improve upon the event for next year, but I am really proud of what we were able to accomplish and I am excited to be able to host the event again next year.
WHAT I'M WATCHING/LISTENING TO
- Did you know that today is World Teachers Day? I am really glad that days like this exist, so that we can pause and think about the essential role teachers around the world play in raising up youths and making a genuine difference in the lives of so many. Being a teacher is far from easy, but it is sadly a profession that is too often taken for granted. I really enjoyed watching this collection of stories by and about educators put together by Storycorps. They are a testament to the powerful impact a teacher can have on an individual's life. Thank you to those of you who contributed to our own little version of Storycorps on Saturday by stepping into our testimonial “booth” and talking about your CSW experience. We look forward to sharing your reflections with our faculty and staff.
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
CSW alum Matt Johnson ’96 returned to campus this week to tour campus and catch up with the Art Department’s Tom Evans, whom he considers an important mentor and friend. Matt recently had an incredible piece called Sleeping Figure in the Desert X art exhibition. Be sure to check it out!
The Cambridge School of Weston is a progressive high school for day and boarding students in grades 9–12 and PG. CSW's mission is to provide a progressive education that emphasizes deep learning, meaningful relationships, and a dynamic program that inspires students to discover who they are and what their contribution is to their school, their community and the world.