I was very sad to learn of the death of “ravenous reader and cerebral interviewer” Michael Silverblatt. He brought such a sincere, almost reverent love of writing and literature to his work, which is something I feel a profound kinship with. I can trace the arc of my life through memories of books and reading. In early childhood, I remember snuggling up to my parents and sounding out the words of One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish with great pride. When I grew older, my siblings and I would cuddle around my mother for our bed time “chapter books,” fighting to get the prime spot on her lap. Later, I would make a trip to the Institut Français for my first library card and experience the joy of checking out books by the Comtesse de Segur. I was thrilled when an expat family visiting Port-au-Prince left behind their collection of Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries… and you can imagine my awe when I discovered romance novels. Reading allowed me to explore subjects and themes not covered in my Catholic schooling and transport myself to far away places like East India. And so I am grateful for people like Michael, who worked to spread the magic of reading and imaginative thinking.  

The purpose of the show is to help my listeners look through writers’ eyes. It’s to show them whether they’re reading or not, how writers re-enchant the world, how they surround us with the miraculous. That’s what books do to me and what I want my show to do, to remind people how odd and special writers’ minds and imaginations are.

— Michael Silverblatt

 

I’m thinking about how hard we all worked this past mod at CSW. I’m thinking about our Facilities and Dining staff that had the added challenges of multiple snow events. I’m thinking of our faculty and staff who entered into this mod with gusto and passion, focusing on the students who are here while also finding the time to speak with applicant families. And I’m thinking about our students! I often look at them with wonder and pride. The range of their interests and work is truly inspiring. If you're looking for a source of hope for the future, just stop by an end-of-mod show. Or spend a little extra time with your student to hear about what they’ve been up to at school. These are all the seeds for the future, let’s not forget that. Deep under the snow covered ground around us, seeds and roots are there, waiting to burst open and upwards in the spring.  See everyone on the other side of Spring Break!

This year’s Dance Concert, Revelation, was a stunning celebration of creativity, movement, and artistic expression. The diversity of styles presented reflected both the strength of our Dance Program and the individuality of our performers. When I think about the word revelation, I imagine something long nurtured finally coming into the light, and that is what happened at this concert. Through months of hard work, our students took risks, refined their ideas, and trusted one another, and the result was a show filled with powerful narratives. I was also very moved by the video tribute our alums put together for Nailah, who is retiring at the end of this year. Hearing former students speak about her lasting impact was a poignant reminder that great teaching extends far beyond the time that students are here, and that dance, at its best, shapes confidence, identity, and connection.