Lise's Lens: May 22, 2025

This week, I am reading up on the latest trends in education, watching our community garden bloom with fresh produce, and asking all parents and guardians to please — if you have not already! — complete the one-question survey that was shared with you over email.

WHAT I’M READING
 
  • I’m all over the map right now, so I’ve told myself that I cannot start a new book until I have caught up on certain tasks. Have you ever done that to yourself? Bargain with yourself over the amount of reading you can do? Lately, my attention has mostly been on newspapers and magazines, like Independent School magazine, from the National Association of Independent Schools (which I read cover to cover), and Net Assets, which is published by the National Business Officers Association. Then there are the millions of emerging articles on AI and my favorite these days — articles about the new Pope. So, here you have it… But what is waiting for me on the other side? Here is what’s in my TBR pile:  The Unbearable Lightness of Being (Milan Kundera), Dream Count (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie), Happy Land (Dolen Perkins-Valdez), Absolution (Alice McDermott), and Humbitious: The Power of Low Ego (Amer Kaissi).

WHAT I’M THINKING/TALKING ABOUT
 
  • I’m thinking about how we as adults come to trust the decisions we make about our children’s education, both formal and informal. While no child comes with a manual to guide us through their particular needs and sensitivities, by observing and listening to them, we can learn so much. It can feel like putting a puzzle together around their needs and the opportunities at hand. As my children went through their formal education, top of mind for me was doing my best to get the fit right for each child. I was fortunate, as well, to raise my children in an area that had a history of great schools from which to choose.  I would say the same is true for the Greater Boston Area. We take the seriousness of this task to heart and mind, which is why our admissions process at CSW involves multiple touch points between prospective families and students and those who are currently experiencing the opportunities here. 

    And so here is my ask: would you answer this anonymous one-question survey about recommending CSW to another family? It will not only give us important insight into your perspective and experience, but it could prove invaluable to one of your peers who is trying to get the right “fit” for their student. Much appreciated!
 
WHAT I'M WATCHING/LISTENING TO
 
  • Did you know that CSW has a community garden? If you didn’t know it was there, you might miss it. When you enter through the athletic entrance, it’ll be on your right hand side, just past the facilities barn. There is a botany D Block, led by Doralis, that has been working on it this spring, getting the beds ready, growing seedlings, mulching, and simply getting their hands dirty in the great outdoors. Nazgol’s and Anne’s CE groups — Environmental Stewardship and Sustainable Farming were also instrumental in readying the garden, weeding, dividing plants, and preparing the garden for planting. It’s been really fun to watch everyone putting time and energy into it, and now we get to see it sprout and progress. Chamomile is flowering, lemon balm is happy, and the rhubarb has definitely taken over!
     
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
 
I snapped this photo of Doralis posing with some of our bounty from the community garden — fresh Rhubarb!
 
Null

More News from CSW

List of 5 news stories.

45 Georgian Road | Weston, MA 02493 | 781-642-8600

CSW—a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12—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.