“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” ~Bobby Unser (race car driver)
Dear Caedmon Community,
Oh, how lucky it is to be a Fifth grade student at Caedmon!
As of Spring Break, many of those who will soon graduate have already chosen to attend outstanding independent schools all over NYC, and several other graduates are still waiting to hear from NYC public middle schools. Last week, the Fifth graders (and the Fourth grade) took the lead in their Family Conferences, sophisticatedly describing and analyzing their learning for their parents (a skill that served them well this past fall while interviewing at schools). They have remained deeply engaged in their academic classes, which recently included group ZOOM presentations in culmination of their study of Ancient Egypt, all the while rehearsing for the upcoming June production of SHREK; the Musical. Just considering the energy needed to sustain this sort of schedule is mind-boggling.
However, it is actually the Fifth grade learning experiences that took place over the last four days that inspire me to write today’s letter. Every March, in the week before Spring Break, the Fifth grade and their teachers leave the Caedmon building and engage with greater New York City in small-group, specialized Capstone "Minimesters." The experiences are uniquely created each year, based on the passions and interests of that year’s students and faculty. This year, the sixteen students divided into four groups and:
- One asked the question, “How can food be used to have a social impact?” The group visited green markets, did tastings at various food emporiums, met nutrition/social justice minded podcasters and authors, visited a Food Museum, and every afternoon cooked together in the Caedmon Kitchen.
- One immersed themselves in the great outdoors. They headed to the Long Island Sound for birdwatching, and then went hiking and spent the night camping outdoors!
- The third group had a passion for athletics. They bicycled the Hudson Parkway, visited the Rutgers Athletic Center, and met with college gymnasts. They even kickboxed at a neighborhood boxing studio and rock-climbed at Chelsea Piers. (This group was pretty tired by Thursday!)
- The last group’s passion was technology. Their adventures included design, future planning, and a day of Virtual Reality.
Can you imagine being ten years-old, and co-designing these sorts of opportunities with your teachers? This was not on my Fifth grade syllabus! But why take my word for it? Here are some delightful tidbits from the students themselves:
“I learned that ice cream doesn't have to contain sugar to be delicious.”
“Being outdoors is hard, and how much I have learned about nature and surviving in the wild.”
“I learned things about New York. For example, I didn't know there were mountains and places like the places I went backpacking on Tuesday!
“I learned that sports are not just fun activities that you can do, they are also things that can make you feel happy and healthy and good about yourself.”
As for Fifth grade in general? Couldn’t be said better:
“The best thing about Fifth grade is how we are allowed to have a sense of humor and laugh every day and not just do hard work for 7 hours. It really boosts my spirit.”
I hope that you enjoy your Spring Break and have planned exactly whatever will bring you joy and renewal. Frankly, when I contemplate the joyous times had by a Caedmon student, it just makes me want to go back to school!
Best,
Matthew
