Lise's Lens: March 24, 2022
Back from a busy Spring Break, this week Lise recognizes women's history month by highlighting the stories of Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Maria Tallchief, and others. She also touches on the importance of "visioning" and last night's admissions reception for newly accepted parents and guardians.
WHAT I’M READING
- March is Women’s History Month and it’s also home to International Women’s Day (IWD). I’ve been taking this moment to recognize and read about the amazing work of women scientists like Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, whose team was instrumental in developing the COVID vaccine. In addition to her research, Corbett has been an important voice in highlighting the sociological disparities exacerbated by the pandemic.
- I almost fell off my chair when I read Rosanna Salcedo’s email to the community about IWD and her choice to feature Maria Tallchief! What a throwback to my childhood and adolescence! I had a YA book on Maria Tallchief who, in 1947, became the first prima ballerina of the New York City Ballet — a title that she would hold for 13 years and under George Balanchine, no less! I so wanted to be her though I knew that never would nor could ever happen. She was such an inspiration to so many young girls and women at that time. I am thrilled to learn more about her and learn that she has her place of honor in the world of ballet.
I would also be remiss if I didn’t say that in the same collection were two other books of women I looked up to and wanted to emulate: Florence Nightingale and Marie Curie! The other person I so wanted to have a book on — but whose story was limited to just one paragraph in a dry history text — was that of Anacaona.
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO/WATCHING
- Like many others, I’ve been trying to find time to tune into the Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmation hearings. I found these words from Senator Booker particularly moving. This is such a historic moment for our nation — during Women’s History Month, no less — and these hearings have given us all a lot to talk about. I know Rachel Hirsch’s “U.S. Constitution” class has been watching closely and she and her students are eager to discuss with others.
- I’m late to the Jimmy Allen party, but the media attention surrounding his recent award nominations and wins has inspired me to check out his music.
WHAT I’M THINKING/TALKING ABOUT
- Lately I have been thinking about the importance of having a vision, because that is how we create a better future for our communities and for the world. At CSW, one of the ways we practice this idea visioning, and inspire it in our students, is through community engagement. Yesterday afternoon at a faculty meeting, we spoke about this year’s CE (Community Engagement) program and how our students are partnering with a variety of organizations to learn about their visions and working with them to plan and enact real, meaningful change. This work is important not only because it allows our students to be active, engaged citizens, but also because it gives them agency and hope and allows them to spread that hope, which is something we all need right now.
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
Admissions decisions for the 2022-23 school year went out on March 10, and this week we hosted a reception for newly accepted parents and guardians. This is one of my favorite events of the year, and I am so glad we were able to do it in person this year. Thank you to all of our parent volunteers for joining us and helping us to welcome potential new families to the CSW community.
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.