Jane's Pocket Change: Community Matters

Each year as we teeter on the edge of spring here in New England, I find myself considering the richness of the CSW landscape and all that is going on at this very key time of year in the life of a school.

This week, during our admissions revisit days, we welcome many visitors to campus as they determine what school they will be calling “home” next year. Testimonials and information will be offered by our parent panelists and our student ambassadors. The classrooms and corridors will buzz with questions, comments and comparisons.
Each year as we teeter on the edge of spring here in New England, I find myself considering the richness of the CSW landscape and all that is going on at this very key time of year in the life of a school. 

This week, during our admissions revisit days, we welcome many visitors to campus as they determine what school they will be calling “home” next year. Testimonials and information will be offered by our parent panelists and our student ambassadors. The classrooms and corridors will buzz with questions, comments and comparisons.

I always enjoy watching potential new students and their families as they are drawn into the vibrancy of our welcoming community, and I also love witnessing current students and their families be reminded of why they are here. As with much of what we do here, these are “heart” and “head” moments – getting a feel of the place and people while weighing the facts and data – both are vital in these decisions.

This year, as these visitors observe and measure our school, they will have the opportunity to see three stunning exhibits in the Thompson Gallery, Installation Space and Red Wall Lobby. Two exhibits feature two African artists, Aboudia (Ivory Coast) and Mabunda (Mozambique), brought to us by CSW alumnus and gallerist Ethan Cohen ‘79. A third exhibit, a beautiful collection of African masks, is also courtesy of Ethan. The intersectionality of this work - which encompasses community, country, politics and social activism - is the source of its power. When Ethan addressed our student body at assembly today, the connections among the pieces and the passion of these artists came through and resonated with us all.

Then, we look forward further into springtime when, in the coming weeks, we will hold elections for the key student leadership positions that open up each year: head of advisory board; heads of diversity, curriculum and community service committees; town meeting moderator; student trustees; and assembly coordinators. Just as the admissions revisit events serve as a reminder to us of why we are here at CSW, so, too, do the statements these student candidates make act as markers, staking out the deep and vital reason as to why we exist as a school and the role we each play in building and sustaning this community.

Yes, what we do here at CSW is different and it is also heartfelt, real and inspirational. What we do here truly matters and provides a vital generative stage for all of our lives and our future.

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.