Lise's Lens: May 2, 2024
On my mind this week: the collected works of Isabel Allende, the magic of CSW Reunion, and the student protests cropping up on college campuses across the country.
WHAT I’M READING
- I’m just about finished reading Isabel Allende’s novel, The Wind Knows My Name. I’ve been reading her works for a very, very long time. She is so prolific! Here are some of my favorites: Eva Luna (1997), Paula (1994), Daughter of Fortune (1998), Island Beneath the Sea (2009), and A Long Petal of the Sea (2019). If I’m doing a bit of a retrospective, I think Paula was one of the most beautiful, gut wrenching books I’ve ever read; it’s Allende’s personal experience describing the death of her daughter, Paula. It is brilliant.Still, I'm wondering about reading so many books by one author. Does it mean I’m missing out on a ton of other opportunities or stubborn about my penchant for literary fiction? Well, this may be my last Allende book. Here’s the review from NPR if you want to read it to find out more. I will say that I wish she had limited her substories or plots. Her first two characters were great and could have been developed further and that would have been more than enough.
WHAT I’M THINKING/TALKING ABOUT
- We held our annual Reunion Weekend this past Friday and Saturday and I am still glowing from the excitement. I will never tire of meeting alums, hearing their stories, and watching them interact with our campus and each other. Just this past weekend alone, I was able to hear insights and anecdotes from as far back as the 50s, and almost every decade since. It is such an honor for me to be the keeper of these stories of friendship, transformation, and inspiration. So many alums I spoke to shared how CSW was crucial in helping them overcome self doubt and find their voices, and it’s amazing to see the many ways in which they have all continued to spread their wings. The CSW alumni community is a very impressive bunch! I am so grateful to everyone who joined us on campus.
WHAT I'M WATCHING/LISTENING TO
- Like many of you, I have been closely watching all that has been transpiring at college campuses around the country as student protesters seek to make their voices heard via marches and encampments. Of course, I have been particularly interested in observing how each administration has responded to the protests. As school leaders, how can we ensure student safety and minimize disruption, while also protecting the right to free speech for our students? It’s a really difficult situation to balance and some schools have handled it better than others. I particularly liked this response from the head of school at Wesleyan University and am glad to hear that their protests have thus far remained non-violent. This has not been the case everywhere, which has been heartbreaking to watch.
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
As part of Reunion, alums from the Class of 2004 organized a Boat Dance Revival party in the Fit, featuring special guest, former Head of School Jane Moulding. What a great idea!
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.