Whether it is major awe-inspiring events such as experiencing the Grand Canyon for the first time, seeing a newborn baby, listening to a feel-good story on the news, or just the simple moments during the day... finding moments of awe can help lead to joy and balance.
The academic world was thrown into a frenzy with the release of an artificial intelligence chatbot known as ChatGPT. While the use of AI has been increasing, until the release of this new site, nothing had been accomplished in this genre with this level of sophistication.
The weeks and days leading into this final week of assessments can be a time when stress and anxiety build in students. With the light of a well-earned vacation in sight, the obstacles of papers, projects, and exams can bring added pressure.
If you were to walk through our science labs this week, you would have found 9th grade students exploring cell transport and plasma membranes in their biology classes. Part of their lesson included a hands-on activity in which students created their own models of the different cell types out of modeling clay.
I remember this memory quite vividly. I was about 14 years old and brought a bowl of soup to my grandmother. I walked slowly, intent on not spilling any of the soup, trying not to blink as I focused on the liquid in the bowl moving back and forth and coming close to the edge.
One special aspect of the yearbook is the opportunity for each graduating student to design and personalize their own page in the yearbook. Each page takes on the personality of the student, pulling back the curtain on some of the important moments from their high school career.
Head of Upper School Joshua Neudel shared remarks to the Upper School Community after the devastating news out of Uvalde, Texas. He shared some of his feelings to help students make sense of their own feelings.
This fall was filled with similar moments that brought back a sense of normalcy. From fans on the soccer field to our theater filled for the US play, Trap, to classrooms set up for the style of learning we pride ourselves on, it has been a year so far that more resembles 2019 than 2020.
As educators, we must encourage our students to examine the stories of those who have been the subject of discrimination and hate. In doing so, they learn to recognize and respond to these acts.
Part of my professional practice has been to document the great teaching and learning that occurs in our classrooms. Recently during one of my walk throughs of classes, I found myself in a 9th grade Biology class.
As the school year ended in June 2021, we finally lifted our heads, stopped sprinting, took a deep breath, and felt the power of the moment and enormity of what had been accomplished. Let’s now focus on looking up, enjoying the moment, and truly being present.
This year has been marked by so many losses and provided so many limitations that it can sometimes be hard to find those moments when you get the chills. As we approach the one year mark of the shutdown, the losses can feel debilitating if we don’t also look at everything that has been accomplished and find those moments of joy and wonder.
It is not clear what will transpire over the next few days, but there is a pathway to change. It requires us to stand up and engage in civil discourse, work together, and live our Core Values. We will continue to work together, students, faculty, and staff to create a positive change at our School, in our community, and beyond.
We recently heard the stories of members of our community as part of ourVoicesassembly program. The program focused on elevating Black voices, and these Brimmer community members shared personal stories about their experiences in school, times when they have experienced anti-Black racism, and moments when they have felt like outsiders.
If we want to live out our guiding principle of “Empowered to Lead,” we need to help students develop their voices, so they feel authorized to enact the changes necessary to improve the world. I believe that we are working to help students see themselves as active participants, rather than young adults who will simply wait for the world to change.
Our School’s Core Values of Respect and Responsibility are two of the pillars that are essential tobeingour best selves and for creating community. To respect is to authentically see another person, hear what they are saying, and to value the contributions of each person.
Many adults can still recall where they were when they first heard news of attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the crashing of United Airlines Flight 93. Yet, this year marks the first time that Brimmer does not have any enrolled students who were alive on or before September 11, 2001.
As an inclusive private school community, Brimmer welcomes students who will increase the diversity of our school. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, or any other characteristic protected from discrimination under state or federal law, in the administration of our educational policies, admissions practices, financial aid decisions, and athletic and other school-administered programs.