Lise's Lens: November 5, 2026
This week, I explored a student-created election guide, learned about Native American history, and enjoyed an incredible performance by student band Q.
WHAT I'M READING
It’s no coincidence our U.S. Voting and Elections class takes place in Mod 2. Aligning the course with real-time local and national elections makes the content immediately relevant to students, as evidenced by this incredible guide that was put together by students in Rachel’s Hirsch’s class. The document offered a guide to the nine MA Ballot questions that were voted on, in addition to analysis of election media from the last month or so. I found it educational and informative, and it gave me hope for the next generation of voters.
WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT
Native American Heritage Month
Our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Office recently shared resources for Native American Heritage Month, leading me to a history I was previously unfamiliar with: early grassroots campaigns for Native recognition surrounding World War I that were instrumental in paving the way toward national recognition and full citizenship. You can read more about it here.
On a related note, it was exciting to see Deb Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior, get elected as the first female Native American governor in the United States for the state of New Mexico. Very cool.
WHAT I'M WATCHING/LISTENING TO
The Student Band — Q
Oh, to be young! Yesterday morning I got to hear the school band Q perform Pink Floyd’s song "Another Brick in the Wall, Part Two. It was AMAZING! AND it brought me back to my teen years when I would sometimes wonder if the adults around me had my fellow students and me in mind when they were setting up school.
For their introduction, the band offered a heartwarming disclaimer clarifying that the lyrics were not in line with how they felt about CSW. It was a great performance that left everyone feeling energized.
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
Last weekend during the Halloween Dance, parents and guardians from Grade 9 got together for some socializing of their own! We love to watch connections form in our parent community!
CSW — a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12 and PG — is a national leader in progressive education. We live out our values of inquiry-based learning, student agency, and embracing diverse perspectives in every aspect of our student experience. Young people come to CSW to learn how to learn and then put what they learn into action—essential skills they carry into their futures as doers, makers, innovators, leaders, and exceptional humans who do meaningful work in the world.