Extraordinary Possibilities Are Waiting
“Where were you when _______ happened?” When we think back on modern history, some moments stick with us. The Berlin Wall coming down, 9/11, and the Apollo 11 mission are ones that come to mind. This week, it felt like we experienced a moment as the Artemis II mission did its fly-by of the moon, where the crew set a new record for distance traveled from Earth and were the first people to view the far side of the moon. Knowing this was a moment in time to pause and recognize, we took time out of our Upper School Meeting to share why this was worth noting, and we put the live-feed from NASA on the screen in the Dining Commons.
Noting the occasion, some teachers reflected on their memories of the first lunar landing. They shared the following:
“I remember being woken up late at night when I was in 2nd grade to watch on our little black and white set as Armstrong took his first steps on the moon.” - Bill Jacob
“I was 7 when Apollo 11 landed on the moon, and Neil Armstrong became the first person to step on the moon. The broadcast from the moon was grainy and not very clear, and I think about the quality of video that we have today on our phones and how important those grainy black and white images were. I remember my mother crying when Armstrong climbed down from the capsule and said ‘one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind’ I thought the way they walked by bouncing around looked like so much fun.” - Cecelia Pan
While daily routines provide structure to our days, we sometimes get lost in the cyclic nature of a school week, moving from class to class and assignment to assignment. However, whether students took a moment to think about what was happening nearly 240,000 miles away, to take a moment to recognize that on this mission in addition to a new record being set, it is also the first time a black astronaut, a woman, and a non-US citizen orbited the moon. A true first for humanity and role models that now exist for a new generation of hopeful astronauts, and I cannot think of a better example of “encouraged to explore” than the four brave people who are helping to unlock new understandings of our universe.
I hope we carry with us some of the spirit of this lunar fly-by: the willingness to look up, to wonder, and to remember that meaningful progress begins with curiosity. In a school community devoted to encouraging students to explore, may we continue to help them see that even in the midst of ordinary routines, extraordinary possibilities are waiting just beyond the horizon.
I hope we carry with us some of the spirit of this lunar fly-by: the willingness to look up, to wonder, and to remember that meaningful progress begins with curiosity. In a school community devoted to encouraging students to explore, may we continue to help them see that even in the midst of ordinary routines, extraordinary possibilities are waiting just beyond the horizon.
Brimmer and May School
69 Middlesex Road
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-566-7462
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-566-7462
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.