A Busy, Final Week!

This is the final academic week of the 2009 calendar year. We will certainly take advantage of all five days (actually four and half since Friday is a 12:15 dismissal) to pack in a variety of activities and events: the Head Master's Inn on Monday (holiday party for employees in my office); folder paper readings in many Lower School homerooms; Middle School exams on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday; Baltimore City H1N1 vaccine clinic on Thursday; 9th Age Hopper-Cricket flag football game on Thursday; Lower School Holiday sing-a-long and class parties on Friday! I even had the pleasure of being serenaded by a 7th Age Spanish class on Monday! (See picture below). The offices will be open Monday, 12/21, through Wednesday, 12/23, and then the buildings are closed for a week and a half. School reopens on Monday, January 4, 2010. It will take a few weeks to get used to writing and saying "2010"! Best wishes for a wonderful, safe, joyous holiday season!

Distance Learning Day a Big Success!

The Distance Learning Day on December 4 proved to be a big success. Five teachers--Mr. Ewen, Mr. McLaughlin, Mr. Rossi, Mr. Little, and Ms. Summers--instructed 45 Sixth Graders who took math, science, English, and history classes from the comfort of the their own home. (See two pictures below). The teachers used a variety of different technologies, including Google docs, powerpoint, Adobe Connect, break out groups, online quizzes, and chat over the four and half hours of instruction. The all-digital format included technologies to let the students speak to each other and the teachers in real time. The initial feedback from the students was very positive. In fact, one asked, "Can we do this every week?" While the effort involved makes a weekly distance day unlikely, we certainly learned a great deal about a variety of educational technologies. Many thanks to the students, teachers, and Mrs. Frederick, Mr. Bethea, and Mr. Clapp for a job well done!

Devoted Calvert Alumni

On Wednesday night, December 2, I had the special opportunity to attend a Christmas Tree Lighting Party hosted by a Calvert alumnus. His office overlooks Rockefeller Plaza in New York City and thus offers the ideal spot for a holiday party for employees and friends. At the party, I saw numerous Calvert alumni, and whether they graduated 70 years ago or 15 years ago, they remain passionate and devoted to Calvert School. In early 2010, we are going on the road for several Calvert alumni and friends events: January 6 in Palm Beach, Florida; January 7 in Naples, Florida; and January 25 in New York City. If you live in those areas, please be on the lookout for an invitation. Please note that not just alumni are invited; we encourage grandparents and past Calvert parents to attend as well. You should contact Elisa Chelius, Director of Alumni Relations, at 410-243-6054 x. 142 (or echelius@calvertschool.org) if you have any questions.

Indoor Soccer A Blast!

Rain has been tough on the athletic schedules this fall, including on the Hopper-Cricket and Crow-Canary games in the Lower School. The soaked fields forced last week's 9th Age Hopper-Cricket soccer game inside, to the Middle School Gym. The boys played two games simultaneously, and I must admit I found the games to be more exciting than the outdoor versions. Balls were flying around the gym and, because of the walls and center dividing curtain, there was rarely a stoppage in play. The crowd was really into the action, and it was just an action-packed afternoon for all involved. The setting reminded me of watching a Baltimore Blast game! The somewhat fuzzy picture below (taken by my Blackberry) gives you a sense of the environment. I was standing on the bleachers at a point where I could see both games at the same time.

Distance Learning Day on December 4!

On Friday, December 4, we are having a distance learning day for our 6th graders. The students will stay at home that day but will have class with their teachers through a variety of interactive, online technologies. Our hope is that this "test run" will help the School prepare for an unlikely closure because of public health issues and to test technologies that may be of benefit to our teachers and students in the short-term. Our home-schooling division, Calvert Education Services, is partnering with us in this effort. Check back for more details after December 4! The picture below is of a few 6th graders in Mr. Ewen's science class learning some of the technology they will need to use on December 4.

Spotlight on "Pirate" Mike Paul

Eighth Age teacher Mike Paul has been a member of the Calvert School faculty since 1976, making this school year his 34th at Calvert. In fact, Mr. Paul taught me in 9th Age in the 1979-1980 school year! At Graduation in June 2009, he won the Deborah Dorsey Albert Award for outstanding contributions to the life and mission of Calvert School. Mr. Paul and his wife live on a boat in the Baltimore Harbor, and, as you might have discerned from the title of this post, he uses a "pirate" theme in his classroom. In addition to his many wonderful attributes, Mr. Paul is now a published author! His recently released children's book, The Adventures of Tiller and Turnbuckle: Adventure One St. Simon's Island, can be found on amazon.com or in local Baltimore bookstores like The Ivy on Falls Road and Greetings and Readings at Hunt Valley Town Center. On Saturday, Mr. Paul had a book signing event at Greetings and Readings and drew a big crowd of both Calvert and non-Calvert families. The picture below shows Mr. and Mrs. Paul, in their pirate regalia, and some of the Calvert students who were there.

Calvert's Kitchen a Huge Hit!

This evening, we invited Pilot, 6th Age, and 7th Age families to "Calvert's Kitchen," a new event sponsored by the Diversity Council. Families were encouraged to bring a food dish that represented their cultural heritage. We had such a wonderful evening of fellowship and food! Approximately 125 parents, students, siblings, and faculty filled the Lower School cafeteria from 5:30 to 7:00 P.M. The food was so plentiful and delicious! The picture below shows the buffet line. We are planning a similar evening for 8th, 9th, and 10th Age families sometime later this school year.

Conference Day Thoughts and 2010-11 Calendar

The full day of conferences proved, in fact, to be a huge hit for all involved. The atmosphere of the day was significantly different and improved as compared to the old, half-day format. Everyone was focused--yet in a relaxed way--on a day of substantive, meaningful meetings. We are retaining the full day of fall conferences in 2010-11, but we are wrestling with whether to keep the day on the Friday before the AIMS Conference. Some parents took advantage of the four-day weekend to travel, thereby eliminating the possibility of having their conference on the designated day. We may put the Conference Day on the Friday after AIMS Day.

As for the rest of the 2010-11 calendar, we will have the required (by the State) 170 days of school, plus a few extra days scheduled for inclement weather closings. (Not that Calvert EVER closes for snow!). We generally like to "start early and end early," under the philosophy that a day in early September is worth more than a day in early/mid June. By basically rolling over the 2009-10 calendar into 2010-11 (same length of vacations, professional development days, etc.), it looks like we may start on Tuesday, August 31, and finish with Graduation on Friday, June 3. That is not official yet, however. More details to follow!

Quick Scheduling Note

We are closed (for students) on Friday, November 6, for Parent-Teacher Conference Day and on Monday, November 9, for the Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS) Annual Conference. In past years, we closed at 12:15 P.M. for Parent-Teacher conferences. While helpful, the half-day format was really less than a half-day because most conferences did not start until approximately 12:45 or 1:00 P.M., after dismissal had ended and teachers had a chance to get a bite to eat. Under the new, full-day format, most teachers will be able to see all (or almost all) of their students' parents in one day, which is ideal.

The AIMS Conference, at over 2,000 attendees, is actually the second largest independent school conference in the country, trailing only the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Annual Conference.

So, in short, the students get a well-deserved four-day weekend while their teachers are meeting with parents on Friday and colleagues from other schools on Monday!

Happy Halloween!

We had a wonderful day today on campus.! All students and employees had the option today of dressing in costume or in black and orange colors. The result was a lot of smiles and fun in both the Lower School and Middle School. In the Middle School, the students enjoyed a rotation of five activities: scary storytelling, Halloween movies, paper football, face painting, and cookie decorating (and eating!). In the Lower School, we had a parade first thing in the morning, then a few academic classes, and then class Halloween parties to finish the half-day schedule. It was the first time we allowed all Lower School students (not just Pilot Class) to dress in costume, and it was a big success. See below for pictures from today, and best wishes to all my readers for a fun, safe Halloween weekend!

"It's All About the Kids"

Whenever I say "It's all about the kids," that usually means I am doing something very fun under the auspices of official school business. Yesterday, it was "all about the kids" as I had the pleasure of chaperoning the 8th grade special field trip downtown. The whole day was a surprise for the students. We started off with a tour of Camden Yards and even got to sit in the Orioles dugout. (See picture below). We then walked down to M&T Bank Stadium and received an insiders' tour of the stadium, including spending time in the Ravens locker room, in the press box, and on the field itself. Finally, we walked to the ESPN Zone and enjoyed a delicious buffet lunch followed by games upstairs. Each student received a 90 point game card. Naturally, I wanted to set a good example for the students, so I had to play one game. Mr. Skeen, Mr. Clapp, Mrs. Frederick, and I raced wave runners against each other, and I finished a respectable second. Mrs. Frederick won and showed the former jocks how to drive! It was a terrific day, and I am honestly not sure who had more fun--the students or the chaperones!

The Trees

Each fall, there are two trees along the path between the Lower and Middle School that explode with incredible fall colors. The orange and red foliage is simply amazing. The trees are among the first to change colors, almost as if to say "Look at us!" I have posted some pictures below, but you should swing by campus and take a look yourself if you are nearby. You should come soon, however, because the colors will change quickly and the leaves are falling! I have the pleasure of being able to look out my office window and see the beautiful fall setting every day...until winter arrives!

Fifth Grade Basketball Keeps Dribbling

This is the third year of the fifth grade intramural program, in which fifth graders have the opportunity to play intramural sports at the conclusion of the academic day. Each season of intramurals runs about six weeks. Participation is completely optional; moreover, students can attend when they wish and are not obligated to come every day. We take advantage of the facilities not being used by the interscholastic sports. Thus, in the fall, we play basketball and have the entire Middle School Gym at our disposal. What a treat! Coach Wlodarczyk and I have the pleasure of coaching approximately twelve boys and girls three days per week this season in basketball. Yesterday, due to an injury, the Gold Team was short one player. I eagerly came out of retirement and joined the squad for about five minutes. I would like the official record book to show that I had an assist for the Gold Team!

A Chilly but Successful Golf Classic!

We held our 4th Annual Calvert Golf Classic at Hayfields Country Club in Hunt Valley yesterday. Nearly 100 parents, alumni, grandparents, and friends took to the links to enjoy a round of golf on the beautiful Hayfields course. It was chilly, indeed, but fun was had by all. The Calvert Golf Classic has quickly become a tradition on Columbus Day Monday. For those eligible to play, please mark your calendars for next year: Monday, October 11, at Hayfields!

Considering Calvert?

If you are considering Calvert as a school for your child, please attend one of our new "Considering Calvert Days" this fall: October 13, November 17, and December 8 (Lower School) and November 2 (Middle School). In the past, we held Saturday Open Houses, which were informative but lacked the feeling of a true school day. All of the Considering Calvert Days will be held from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M. on a school day, so prospective parents can see the students and faculty in action. After some opening comments from the academic administration, student tour guides will escort groups of parents on a campus tour. We do hope you will join us! For more information, please contact the Admission Office at 410-243-6054.

High School Night a Big Success!

Earlier this evening, representatives of 34 secondary schools (independent, public magnet, and boarding) set up tables in the Middle School Gym to speak with our 7th and 8th graders and their parents. Known as "High School Night," this event has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 5 years. In the first year, 10 to 12 schools came, and tonight, we actually had to turn away some interested high schools due to space considerations. We have graduated six classes of 8th graders. In all six years, the students have matriculated to 10 or more different schools. Moreover, the overall six-year rate of students being accepted into their first-choice school is 93%, highlighted by last year's 98% first-choice placement rate. One of the big benefits of attending a pre-K through 8th grade school is having the opportunity to choose a secondary school that is the right fit for the student. This selection is being made just a few months before high school begins rather than years prior. Many thanks to the high school representatives for their time, materials, and wisdom!

Parent Coffee on Wednesday Night

This is a reminder that there will be a Coffee for Calvert parents on Wednesday night from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. at the Head Master's residence on campus. From 7:00 to 7:30, we will enjoy coffee and dessert. At 7:30, I will give a presentation detailing the innovative tiered faculty structure we are in the process of implementing this academic year. I encourage parents to attend to learn more about faculty professional development in general and the tiered structure in particular. I do not want to share too many details in this post, because I want parents to attend the Coffee! Hopefully we will have strong attendance and a stimulating discussion. Parents who plan to attend should RSVP by calling 410-243-6054 x 136.

Is September Almost Over?

Since the afternoon of August 31, we have had a Pilot and 6th Age Popsicle Party, three parents' nights, an 8th grade kickoff party, an Annual Fund kickoff party, a new parents' BBQ, a 5th grade overnight trip to Camp Wright on the Eastern Shore (thank you, chaperones!), several alumni meetings, multiple interscholastic athletic contests, two Picture Days...and 18 days of school! It is hard to believe that 10% of the school year has already been completed. I think of the academic year in six segments: 1) September; 2) October through Thanksgiving; 3) Thanksgiving to winter break; 4) January through spring break (arguably, this could be broken into two segments, divided by Presidents' Day weekend); 5) late March through the end of April; 6) May through early June. September is such a critical month in terms of setting expectations, establishing routines, renewing friendships, and launching into the curriculum. My gut tells me we have had a strong month of September thus far. The pace is fast, but it feels good! Two more days of September then October 1 dawns on Thursday!

Hardwood Floors!

During some routine renovations early this summer, we discovered that there were hardwood floors under the tile in a 7th Age girls' homeroom. We decided to rip off all the tile in the classroom and refurbish the wood floors. The result was remarkable! The floor is simply stunning. To add to the good news, we believe that all the classrooms that were part of the original 1924 Lower School building (there have been additions) have hardwood floors underneath the tile. We plan to do the same refurbishment in three classrooms per summer starting in 2010. Please enjoy the pictures of 7-A below!

September Events Foreshadow Strong Year

Last week was chock full of productive, successful events: Middle School Parents' Night, the Annual Fund Kickoff Dinner, and the 4th Annual New Parents' Barbecue, held at the Head Master's residence on campus. At all three events, the attendees' enthusiasm for the year ahead was evident. Our Annual Fund goal this year is $700,000. These funds will flow directly into the operating budget to help pay for salaries, benefits, energy, books, supplies, professional development, field trips, and food, among other expenditures. At the New Parents' Barbecue on Sunday, we were blessed with beautiful blue skies, delicious food, and a great turnout. I explained to the parents that during the time their children were at Calvert, we would try to provide the best possible pre-secondary education anywhere and to love and care for their children. If we can do those two things well, we will have done a good job! I received an incredible education during my Calvert years, and hopefully we can provide that same top-notch education to the students of today.

Turtles!

Did you know that a few turtles live at Calvert School? Visitors and students will see several turtles residing in the interior courtyards in our Lower School. Mr. Kevin Lloyd from the maintenance department takes excellent care of the turtles. Here are a few pictures of one of our shelled friends eating:

The President's Speech

This is a hopefully "better late than never" post on the President's speech to the nation's schoolchildren on Tuesday. Calvert 10th Agers saw the speech live, and many of our Middle Schoolers saw it later it in the afternoon. The White House was smart to release the text of the speech a day early, but it was sad, in my opinion, that they had to do so. The critics of the speech missed a key point: even if the speech did deliver a partisan message--which it did not--it would have been a great learning opportunity for our students and students across the country! In fact, one might argue that students could have learned more from a partisan speech (regardless of the party) than from a middle of the road speech. The post-speech discussions in class would have been much richer. It is important for students to understand politics, to analyze what politicians (and authors, other speakers, etc) say or write, and to digest that information and then make an informed opinion about what they themselves believe. This is obviously a process and cannot be fully achieved when a child is 10 or 11, but we can start that education now.

A New Lower School Schedule

This spring, we overhauled the Lower School schedule. We emerged from the grueling process with a schedule for 2009-10 that better suits students' needs and better utilizes our facility and faculty resources. One change allowed us to separate 9th and 10th Age physical education classes, which had previously been (mostly) together. To do so, we moved 10th Age PE to the morning, which the students seem to truly enjoy already. One remarked with pride, "We are the first 10th Agers in Calvert history to have PE in the morning!" The pictures below were taken at about 9:30 this morning, under cool, beautiful blue skies. Longtime PE teacher Jane Sewell commented, "The schedule change is the best thing that has happened in years." You will note that I also included a picture of some very happy 8th Age boys in the library for good measure!

First Day of School!

We had an incredible, special first day of school! The weather was spectacular, the students were eager and enthusiastic, and the faculty and staff were fully prepared and ready to go! Highlights: shaking hands in the Lower School, assisted by new Lower School Head, Dr. Ed Trusty; walking around the entire school, seeing 550 students already engaged in lessons and activities; an All-School Assembly; the first lunch for the Sixth Age; and a Fifth Grade Scavenger Hunt! I am already looking forward to shaking hands in the morning! Please enjoy the following photos from the day.

Almost the First Day!

The excitement is palpable on campus. The new faculty arrived on August 19, and the returning teachers came back on August 25. We were treated to an outstanding day of professional development on Thursday, when Dr. JoAnn Deak, author of Girls Will Be Girls, spoke to the faculty about gender issues. She was excellent and received rave reviews from the teachers and administrators.

On Monday, we wrap up faculty meetings in the morning and then welcome Pilot Class and 6th Age students in the afternoon for a Popsicle Party. The weather is going to be gorgeous, and the party should be a blast!

The first day of school is Tuesday, September 1! Keep checking back for multiple updates this week...

Graduate School and Calvert Update

I am back to Baltimore after a week of doctoral graduate classes at the University of Pennsylvania. It was my last week of summer classes, which is exciting. I have had time to reconnect with classmates, meet with my dissertation advisor, and attend classes on Testing and Assessment, Educational Law and Policy, and Data Analysis and Reporting. I am completing my dissertation on the experiences of parents of color at Calvert. How do they feel regarding community membership? What suggestions do they have for how Calvert can better support parents of color in the future? I look forward to answering those questions in the academic year ahead.

On the Calvert front, we have had a busy summer. I never let readers know that we decided to go outside for Graduation in early June...and the rain held off! The ceremony was held under cool, cloudy skies, which was actually perfect. Congrats again to the Class of '09!

Other Calvert notes from the summer...summer camps and programs, including the Middle Grades Partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools; renovations, office moves, and maintenance work; fire and security upgrades; and demolition (in progress) of the former fraternity house located at 3906 Canterbury Road. In the short term, we will stabilize the site; long-terms plans for the property call for a Lower School addition to be built.

Summer also afford the time to have extended meetings with colleagues. Just today, we held an all-day retreat of the academic administrators, in which we discussed individual and group goals, faculty meeting agendas, technology, and strategies for classroom observations. There is excitement for the academic year ahead!

School is (Almost) Over!

We completed the final day of classes today and also celebrated Lower School Closing Exercises. Although it was a half-day of school, it was action packed! Tonight, we have the 5th Annual Dixon Dinner for 8th graders and their parents, and tomorrow is Graduation. Unfortunately, we have another tough weather decision to make. There is a 30-50% chance of showers in the morning! If the weather cooperates--and everyone hopes that it does--we will be on the Castalia Lawn. If not, we will be in the Middle School Gym. In either case, it will be a special day for the Class of 2009!

7th Ager and 8th graders Having Fun in the Sun

As many of you know, Track and Field Day was cancelled due to rain. However, we were able to get in many of the events and activities during the last week. Yesterday, the 7th Agers played a variety of games, assisted by the 8th graders. You can enjoy the pictures below!

Moments from the Penultimate Week of School

It is only a four-day week this week because of Memorial Day on Monday, but we have squeezed a lot in! Unfortunately, "we" (meaning "I" had to make the final decision) had to cancel Lower School Track and Field Day due to rain and soaked fields--the first T+F Day cancellation in my tenure. Mrs. Sewell and Mr. Vorsteg will do their best to get in as many events as possible during the remaining PE classes. Also this week....Middle School exams, Pilot Class Fathers' Day Coffee, 10th Age Closing Exercises practices, the final Board of Trustees and Alumni Board meetings of the year, and a terrific retirement party last night for Eileen Batt, Debbie Frey, Marie-Camille Havard, and Karen Burdnell!

I also had the pleasure of having four 7th graders in my office...and no, they were not in trouble! They won "lunch in Mr. Martire's office" at the Middle School points auction. We enjoyed some delicious Eddie's sandwiches (I had the cobb salad wrap without onions--always a good choice) and talked about exams and summer plans. It was an enjoyable lunch during a very busy day. You can see the happy boys in the picture below.

Lacrosse Fever!

On Wednesday, the 10th Age Girls played their Crow-Canary lacrosse game on the Krongard Field at the Middle School. At Calvert, Lower School girls are divided into Crows and Canaries and the boys into Hoppers and Crickets. These teams serve as useful groupings in physical education; moreover, in 9th and 10th Age, there are Crow-Canary and Hopper-Cricket games in a variety of sports to which parents are invited. The girls did a great job on Wednesday under beautiful blue skies!

A day later, the Middle Schools boys' team took their 11-0 record to Loyola for the last game of the year. While the 11-7 loss prevented the boys from finishing with an undefeated record, the team played hard the whole game and had an excellent season in many, many ways. I was proud to watch their competitiveness and team spirit yesterday and all season long. Congratulations to players and to Coaches Skeen and Broy!

Please enjoy the pictures below. I am sure you figure out which ones are from which game!