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Leadership
Lise's Lens
Lise's Lens: November 6, 2025
This week I am reading Weston’s new newspaper, thinking about all the excitement surrounding Mid-Term Elections, and striking out with my movie picks.
WHAT I'M READING
The Weston Observer — Weston’s new newspaper!
I was very excited to learn that the town of Weston has a new newspaper, especially now at a time when journalism is in flux and it feels like another paper shuts down every day. Some big items for the town that I’ve been reading about are the decision on whether or not to build a new HS and/or MS or upgrade the existing ones and the stressful intersection of Route 20, Boston Post Road, and Wellesley Street (if you know, you know!). And of course I have been a loyal reader of the “Backyard Naturalist” column authored by former CSW trustee and parent Michael Pappone P’02. Each week Michael shares his observations and insights on local bird populations. Try this week’s article Skittish and adorable: Look out for wood ducks this time of year. I love how Michael begins it: “No duck that ever cruised a Weston pond is more adorable than the wood duck. Period. Full stop.” I hope you’ll give it a read!
WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT
Mid-Term Elections
I have been following along with the results and stories coming out of mid term elections this week. I truly admire those who persevere through adversity, with the determination and drive to hang in until the end, sometimes with a win and other times with a loss. But most of all, I am filled with hope because people are still choosing to be involved in politics and remain committed to upholding the basic tenets of our democracy.
WHAT I'M WATCHING/LISTENING TO
Dull Movies
I have been striking out with my film choices lately. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve started something only to realize it just isn’t worth my time. How can this be when I have so many options to choose from? Perhaps this is part of the problem. In French we call a bad movie un navet. While un navet literally means “a turnip” in English, it is used idiomatically to mean a bad movie, play, or book. Please send me your film recommendations so that I can break this streak of disappointment.
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
We had great attendance at our Halloween Dance last weekend. It delights me to know that our kids still love to play and dress up!
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.