"Transitions are a time for reflection, and a time for looking forward." ~Roy Cooper
Dear Caedmon Community,
Thank you to all who joined us last night for the The State of the School presentation. While Jamie and I appreciate the commendations that we have received, we wanted to emphasize to please reach out with any questions or considerations, especially as you review the Powerpoint here or the ZOOM recording here.
I relish the chance to offer this presentation to all of you. Caedmon is a very special educational institution, which I don't say cavalierly. I've had the distinct honor of serving at six independent schools prior to Caedmon. Because I work so closely with each of our families in the placement process to find a great Middle School, I honestly believe I am afforded unique insight into the many institutions here in New York City. And yet, I still say with great humility that I am not aware of another school in New York that combines such deep passion, such a devoted community, and something somewhat intangible...a soul if you will.
Caedmon serves the youngest learners, and we know from Maria Montessori that the initial years in a person's life truly set that person up for success for the remainder of their time on the planet. Caedmon's program is designed to give the students the agency and power to steer their own learning, and we know from all reports that self-advocacy and the ability to problem solve, work with others, and to be flexible will be THE key skills needed by the students of today. Caedmon's teachers are second to none; their passion, their talent, and their wisdom as they display their craft each day is an art. Caedmon's Board is thoughtful, sound in their knowledge, and careful in caring for the fiduciary needs of the school. And, the learning for a child at Caedmon is, as we sought to demonstrate last evening, a profoundly vibrant experience.
As I reflect this morning, I find myself just a tad frustrated at all of the other information I wanted to include last night! Especially as we begin to once again consider venturing out of the Schoolhouse and using this magnificent city, I would love to share insight and planning for the upcoming Fifth grade Capstone minimester, where the daily curriculum is on pause and for one week small groups of the Fifth grade pursue specific passions, like healthy food tours and cooking, or the outdoors and birding, or wellness, or the theatre. In Fourth grade, when students thoroughly unpack immigration, they travel to the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side, and take a trip to Ellis Island. Grandparents, uncles, and others with immigration stories come to visit with the Fourth grade. Our Mixed Age First and Second grade, in their exploration of food and travel and green spaces in New York City, visit the 2nd Ave. subway and the Transit Museum, local farmer's markets, and walk to the East River to observe the RFK and the Ed Koch bridges. Magical marionette puppeteers come for school-wide assemblies, after which our Early Program children make their own puppets and stage performances.
As I said at the end of last night, I am so, so proud and amazed by the creativity of our teachers in the past two years, and grateful for the steadfast, watchful guidance of our nurses and school health team, and the conscientiousness of the Board at Caedmon, as we have (and still continue to!) ride the unexpected waves and disruptions to the lives we lived, prior to the pandemic.
And as I write about all of these special Caedmon events and experiences, I find myself filled with excitement and optimism at the prospect of being able to take our children beyond the classroom walls, away from the ZOOM screens, and also invite wonderful visitors back into our classrooms. It is a good feeling.
Matthew
