Lise's Lens: January 6, 2022
Happy New Year, CSW! As we turn the page to 2022, I hope to make strides toward a goal I have had for some time now, and that is to engage more regularly with all of you. Through a new series we are calling “Lise’s Lens,” I will be sharing a weekly snapshot of all the things that have excited or intrigued me that week.
Knowing that everyone’s attention spans are limited these days, the hope is to share very quick, scannable insights into what I have been thinking about — and potentially spark further conversation and connection with all of you! As an added bonus, my kids and husband will be so excited that I have this outlet. Though they are always good listeners, they will appreciate that I have another audience to share these bits and pieces of all the things in my head!
Knowing that everyone’s attention spans are limited these days, the hope is to share very quick, scannable insights into what I have been thinking about — and potentially spark further conversation and connection with all of you! As an added bonus, my kids and husband will be so excited that I have this outlet. Though they are always good listeners, they will appreciate that I have another audience to share these bits and pieces of all the things in my head!
WHAT I’M READING
- I just finished Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (my airplane and beach novel!). It was good enough, but not the best brain break book I've ever read.
- I'm totally engrossed in Milwaukee Blues by Louis-Philippe Dalembert (my dose of reading in French. He is Haitian and was the runner up for this year's Prix Goncourt!).
- I'm also reading in spurts Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen by Rita McGrath.
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO/WATCHING
- My current audible book is Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer — I love it! I have our teacher extraordinaire, Marilyn Del Donno, to thank for this recommendation. I also bought the paperback! It will inspire A LOT of things for me both personally and for our work here at CSW regarding living sustainability both socially and environmentally. And an added bonus for parents out there is that this is the book that the Parent Social Justice Book Group is about to read and their first meeting is February 10. Sign up to participate here!
- My daughter has me hooked on a new Turkish TV series, otherwise known as a dizi, called YARGI. It’s compelling, thought provoking and thrilling!
WHAT I’M THINKING/TALKING ABOUT
- It will come as a surprise to no one that I’ve been thinking A LOT about the dilemmas schools around the country are facing as the Omicron variant sweeps the nation. It is so important that our students are able to continue learning in person as much as safely possible. Our administrators have been working all week to come up with the best possible plan for the weeks ahead here at CSW. We look forward to sharing an update with you tonight at our community gathering. Please click here to register.
- Today, January 6, it’s impossible not to think about the events that transpired at our Capitol this time last year. I cannot believe it has already been a year, and am thinking a lot about what this day meant for our country and what we can continue to learn from it moving forward.
- As college decisions begin to trickle in, I am thinking of our seniors and how often they are bombarded with the question of where they are going next year. This NAIS article, Pondering That College Question, really resonated with me.
- We had a great professional development day this week in which we had an expert from Landmark College talk about the science of neurodiversity, leading us through important case studies that will greatly enhance our pedagogical practices.
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
This is a photo of the COVID testing that took place in the Fit yesterday morning. I am so proud of the team that organized this event for us (how wise and fortunate we were to have secured these tests well before the Omicron variant hit), and all of the students, faculty, and staff who showed up to do their part and get tested (AND all the parents/guardians who drove their kids in. I know it’s not always easy to make time for such things!).
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.