A Terrific Finish

The students, faculty, staff, and administration truly rose to the occasion and "finished strong" over the past two weeks. Every day brought a special event, activity, or program, including the Pilot Class Fathers' Day Coffee, Lower School Final Assembly, Middle School Recognition Assembly, Lower School Closing Exercises for the 10th Age, the Dixon Dinner for 8th graders and their parents--featuring a student-choreographed dance involving all 46 members of the class!--and a wonderful Graduation ceremony for the Class of 2012 on the Castalia lawn on June 7. Graduation was perfect: the weather was stunning, the student presenters were eloquent, poised, and insightful, and the release of 46 doves provided an emotional conclusion to a moving ceremony. I will truly miss these 8th graders. They achieved at a high level in all facets of the Calvert experience--academics, arts, athletics, leadership, and community outreach. We send them off to 15 different schools with Calvert's love and very best wishes!

Now that summer is here, I will not be updating my blog, or updating it with any regularity. See you in late August!

A Great Track + Field Day!

The weather was overcast and relatively cool last Wednesday (5/23); in other words, it was a perfect day for the annual Lower School Track and Field Day. A few years ago, rain forced us to cancel Track and Field Day. Showers earlier in the week, plus the threat of rain mid-day, has us worried on the morning of the 23rd. However, the day could not have progressed any better. Under the skillful direction of PE teachers Brett Porter and Stacey Krebs, all events, activities, races, and games happened on schedule and without a hitch--quite an accomplishment given that we had over 390 students (across six grade levels) participating on three different fields! My personal favorite race to watch is the "long run," a two-lap trek around the Lower School Field. The field is about two-thirds of the size of a football field, so I estimate the race to be about 3/8 of a mile. Despite the teachers' warnings, some runners run the first lap much too fast and tire out, only to be caught from behind in the final stretch by the runner who paced him/herself. Pacing oneself is actually a great "life lesson" to learn! In honor of faculty member Mike Paul, who is retiring after 36 years of excellent service to Calvert, all the students wore Calvert-issued t-shirts (color coordinated by grade level) that read "Thank you, Mr. Paul" on the back. It was a wonderful day to honor Mr. Paul (my 9th Age teacher) and to promote physical fitness, sportsmanship, teamwork, and healthy competition. Many thanks to the dozens of teachers and staff members--plus the entire 7th grade--who assisted our Lower Schoolers throughout the morning on a glorious Track and Field Day!

Alumni Weekend

We enjoyed an outstanding Alumni Weekend, including the Alumni Luncheon for Classes of 1933-1962, Alumni Cocktail Party, Calvert Day Fair under picture-perfect skies, and five (!) class reunions: 1942, 1952, 1977, 1987, and 1997. Many thanks to all who made the weekend a huge success—it was a true team effort from the following departments: Development Office, Maintenance, Food Service, Technology, Business Office, and the teachers and performers at the Alumni Luncheon:  Mr. Hardesty, Mrs. Elliott, Mrs. McGraw, entire 6^th Age and 10^th Age (singers), and the 10th Age and 8th grade students who presented their state report and Castalia project, respectively. A member of the Class of 1942 won the unofficial award for the alumnus who travelled the farthest for Reunion Weekend. He lives in Anchorage, Alaska, and came all the way back to Baltimore for his 70^th Reunion!

AIMS

Independent schools are, by definition, independent from one another (and from public and parochial schools). Within the overall guidelines set for "non-public" schools by the state of Maryland, each independent school is free to choose its curriculum, establish organizational structures, and adopt unique educational initiatives. Although we have this autonomy at Calvert, we have the great benefit of belonging to a strong association--the Association of Independent Maryland & DC Schools (AIMS). As the website  (www.aimsmddc.org)  states, "Founded in 1967, AIMS is a vibrant association of about 120 independent schools in Maryland and the District of Columbia. These schools serve more than 45,000 students in grades PK - 12." AIMS offers professional development, workshops, conferences, and retreats; provides rigorous accreditation services; and, when needed, offers policy and/or advisory statements to member schools. The Executive Director of AIMS, Ron Goldblatt, is a true "pro's pro" and provides excellent, thoughtful leadership. We are proud to be an accredited, active member of AIMS!

24 Hours of Activity!

The successful events listed below all occurred between Friday afternoon and Saturday early evening:

• a home track meet.You are correct in thinking that we do not have a track on campus! However, that fact did not stop us from hosting a multi-school, multi-event meet on the Krongard Field. The field was lined and cut for sprints, distance, and the shot put.
• Girls' A lacrosse beat Bryn Mawr in the season finale.
• the 7th grade girls had a sleepover in the Middle School with four (very brave!) chaperones.
• Girl Power Club had its final (3 mile) run on Saturday morning--6 half-mile laps around campus. Ten girls (ranging between 9th Age and 5th grade) completed the run, along with their running buddies. I completed the run without an injury so that was a big personal success.... :)
• Two hilarious shows of the 7th grade comedy Baby, Baby, Baby, Oh No! The plot?  There is a death threat on French President Nicholas Poirot’s life, and the French Police Department needs help in foiling the plot and saving the incoming President’s life. The Chief of Police enlists the help of party planners, La Chique Soiree, and The Justin Bieber Band, to help protect the President during the inauguration party. Clumsy and egocentric Inspector Clouseau is asked to go under cover in The Justin Bieber Band, which requires him to look and act as “American” as possible. Congrats to the performers and the directors (Mr. Hardesty and Mrs. Williams) for a job well-done!

Sad News to Share

I have some sad news to share. Anne Poultney Taylor ’24 passed away late last week. Anne was our oldest living alumnus (we think) and celebrated her 100th birthday two months ago. I had the opportunity to visit with her three times over the past year. What a wonderful person! In an earlier post, I shared her story about being sent to Mr. Hillyer’s office in 1922 (in the W. Chase Street building) after she ran into a classroom and exclaimed that her baby sister (Elinor Wagner '34) had been born. Anne vividly remembered her teachers and spoke so lovingly about Calvert—the school she attended 90 years ago. She made a big impact on me, as did several other Calvert “legends” who passed away recently, including benefactor Bill Carey ’42 (who said time and time again the best education he ever received was at Calvert), and Jack Morton ’31, who always told me he “loved every brick in this building.” It is imperative that we do everything in our power to ensure that the Calvert students of today have an equally special experience.

New Administrators

I have excellent news to share regarding two recently concluded administrative searches. Calvert Fifth Grade teacher Pam Ossmus will assume the role of Academic Dean, which will help oversee faculty professional development, curriculum, instruction, and standardized testing; coordinate the teacher ladder process; run the new teacher orientation and mentoring program; serve as administrative liaison to the Outreach, Green Schools, and International Committees, and oversee our Association of Independent Maryland & DC Schools (AIMS) reaccreditation process.
Pam brings a wide array of skills to her new post; her excellent CV includes over twenty years in public, parochial, and independent school settings; a K-8 teaching certification; fourth and fifth grade classroom positions; Calvert Education Services (CES) advisory teaching and education counselor experience; and two years as Professional Development Coordinator at CES. In that role, Pam developed a strategic, research-based professional development program that included both on-site and virtual services. Pam traveled to CES schools across the country and then targeted specific "21st Century" professional development needs based on classroom observations and teacher input. Moreover, she developed and constructed an online Professional Development Portal and prepared and delivered presentations both locally and nationally.

I am also pleased to introduce Craig Luntz as our new Director of Technology. Currently the Director of Academic Technology at Holton-Arms School in Bethesda, Craig has led many projects there, including coordinating the integration of tablets and the expansion of their 1-1 laptop program to the fifth and sixth grades; deployment of iPads to the support the fifth grade pilot program; re-designing the summer technology professional development program; and creating and maintaining a web-based set of academic technology resources for faculty, staff, and students. On a daily basis, Craig supports teachers and students with all phases of academic technology integration, including planning, in-class visits, and facilitating assemblies on digital citizenship and the responsible use of technology. In the independent school community, Craig has emerged as a national leader in the field of blended learning. Through his role as a faculty member in The Online School for Girls (www.onlineschoolforgirls.org), he has co-developed and taught regular sessions of a four-week course on Blended Learning. In late February, his presentation at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Annual Conference in Seattle, entitled Blended Learning: Design Technology Goes Online was “standing room only.” Craig has also given workshops at multiple other venues, including the AIMS Technology Retreat, Sloan Consortium Blended Learning Conference, and Lausanne Laptop Institute.

Both Pam and Craig will begin their new roles in the summer. We are quite fortunate, indeed, to have attracted such high-caliber educators into the Calvert community!

State Champion!

We at Calvert now have a State Champion in our midst! One of our Tenth Age girls won the "All Around" gymnastics competition for her age group, while also finishing second on floor, beam, and vault and first on the bars. In addition, for the second year in a row, she made the Maryland State Team, which includes the top six gymnasts in the state at each age level. This is truly exciting news for the student, her family, and Calvert!

Tenth Age Performing Arts Show

As reported before in my blog, the Calvert Fine and Performing Arts program is thriving. With each passing month, there are new and improved events, beautiful projects on display, and high-quality performances from a variety of grade levels. On Friday, the showcase activity was the Tenth Age Performing Arts Show. The participation was so strong--24 acts!--that we had to move the event up to 1:30 PM from its original start time of 2:00. Forty-six students (a full two-thirds of the grade) performed during three different Acts: Dance, Poem/Instrumental, and Vocal/Band. The students were terrific! There was truly a great diversity of skills on display: piano, poetry recitation, rock 'n roll, pop, and modern dance, just to name a few. What started out as a 20-30 minute show in the music room two years ago has quickly evolved into a 90 minute show in the Auditorium. I am very proud of all the performers!

Sprinting, not Winding Down

It has already started again this spring. I have been asked several times, as I am routinely in late March or early April, "So, are you winding down the school year?" I always answer emphatically, "No, we are sprinting to the finish!" The running analogy really is apt here, as we have run a strong race thus far and are headed into the final lap of a four lap contest--one lap per academic quarter. We can see the end in sight, but we cannot slow down. There is too much race left! In our case here at Calvert, there are skills to be honed, material to be learned, games to be played, speeches to be delivered, class plays to be performed, and lessons to be taught. The school calendar is literally packed with events, with fine arts nights, talent shows, grade-level plays, interscholastic athletic events, Track and Field Day, and Calvert Day (our spring fair)--among many other activities--filling the docket. It is shaping up to be an exhilarating "last lap" of the 2011-2012 school year, indeed!

The Power of Observation

A few months ago, as Middle School morning handshaking was wrapping up at about 8:15 AM, I just stood there and observed a variety of movements, conversations, and sights: multiple high-quality art projects on the walls and in display areas; dozens (literally) of students bounding down the stairs after early morning squash practice and hustling to their first period class; 7th graders happily starting a dress rehearsal in the Black Box Theater under the tutelage of their enthusiastic teacher; and a math teacher and a 7th grader pleasantly discussing when the best test date would be given that the student had a conflict (because of the aforementioned dress rehearsal!). All in all, it was a great few moments, with academics, art, drama, athletics, and several authentic teacher-student relationships all "on display." The scene reminded me about the power of observation. An observer, while standing in a common area such as a lobby or main hallway, can learn a tremendous amount about a school (or a workplace!) without actually speaking with anyone. What are the students wearing? If they are wearing a uniform, do their accessories (shoes, backpacks, jackets) differentiate them from each other in any way? How are they interacting with each other? With adults? How are the adults interacting? What items are hanging on the walls? Tone and demeanor of the students and adults? I encourage you to "be an observer" in your school or workplace and then to reflect about whether your observations were in line with your prior thoughts or expectations.

The Butterfly Garden

The families of the Class of 2012 are leaving Calvert with a wonderful gift: a butterfly garden. Located along the path between the Lower School and the Middle School, the Class of 2012 Butterfly Garden is just starting to bloom (after being planted in the fall). The path used to have a scraggly bank on its east side, and now that side has exploded with color and will attract butterflies in a few months. The pictures below really do not do the Garden appropriate justice. Please come by campus and see for yourself!

Calvert's Got Talent!

We had our "best ever" Middle School Talent Show last night--18 strong and varied acts--singing, dancing, piano, ukulele, cello, rap, hard rock, classical, pop, guitar, and drums. The Talent Show has gotten so big that some students (in additional to the 18 acts from last night) are performing in two Middle School assemblies this week. Moreover, we have not one, not two, but THREE 8th graders who were accepted to Baltimore School for the Arts for next year! This is all exciting news and proof that the fine arts program at Calvert is growing and thriving.

A Big Day for Calvert

March 9 was a big day for Calvert School. First, it was the day that prospective families had to inform Calvert if they were going to enroll. I am very pleased to report that we have a large, wonderful group of new children and families joining us in the fall! We will again be "full" in both the Lower and Middle Schools; in fact, our enrollment this year of 612 students represents the fourth consecutive year of an all-time high enrollment at Calvert. Also, March 9 was the day by which our 8th graders had to choose their high school. They will be headed to at least 14 different schools next year, and our first choice placement rate will be at least 98%! The Calvert 8th graders are just so strong, and they have had tremendous success over the years with secondary school admission as well as great achievements at those schools once enrolled. Go Calvert!

Spring Sports

On Monday, March 5, our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders begin their Spring interscholastic sports practices. Some years, we do not start Spring sports until after Spring vacation, but with break being later this year (it starts on March 17), we decided to get going sooner. In the two weeks since winter sports wrapped up, it has been strangely quiet in and around the Middle School between 3:15 and 4:30 PM! Under the skillful and dedicated guidance of Director of Athletics and Physical Education Mary Alice Lears, our interscholastic athletics program is a vital component of the Middle School curriculum. Although optional because they occur after the official end of the school day, the sports program is highly subscribed: each year, approximately 95% of the students play at least one sport, and about 75% play at least two. The offerings? Football, cross country, boys' soccer, girls' soccer, field hockey, squash, wrestling, boys' basketball, girls' basketball, track and field, softball, baseball, girls' lacrosse, and boys' lacrosse! In several sports, we offer an "A" and a "B" team based on number of participants and developmental level. Annually, we have a high winning percentage, but that is not a direct goal of the athletic program. We aim to promote teamwork, skill development, sportsmanship, (life-long) physical fitness, and the enjoyment of sports. I strongly encourage you to come by campus to see a Spring sporting event. Please click on "Athletic Schedule" on our home page for the most up-to-date schedule.

Corks for Calvert

Our annual parent social event, called Corks for Calvert, was held on Saturday night in the France-Merrick Atrium in the Middle School. It was a huge success! Some highlights: record ticket sales of approximately 280, delicious food (crab dip, tenderloin, sushi), terrific silent auction items, grade-level auction items (art projects made by the class) that get better each year, and a spirited tuition raffle (winner received a $5,000 credit for next year’s tuition!). It is wonderful to see so many happy attendees each year. If you are a current Calvert parent who has not yet attended Corks, then you should really mark your calendar now for next year's party! Tentative date: February 23, 2013.

New Teacher Mentoring

This weekend, I power read (meaning "read for essence," a phrase I learned in graduate school) through a very valuable booked entitled New Teacher Mentoring: Hopes and Promise for Improving Teacher Effectiveness. Although the authors (Moir, Barlin, Gless, and Miles) refer to successful mentoring programs in urban public schools, they outline principles that should be guidelines for all mentoring programs, regardless of a school's classification, including "recruit and select the best mentors" and "ensure that teachers have sufficient time for interacting." We are very proud of our new teacher orientation and mentoring program at Calvert, which flourishes under the skillful guidance of veteran faculty member Peggy Szczerbicki. New teachers are assigned a carefully-chosen mentor and then attend the following events and activities, among others: shadow day in the Spring, after they are hired; half-day orientation in June; summer meetings, as needed, with mentor and academic division head; four-day orientation in August, before the veteran teachers return, then five-days of faculty meetings as a "full" faculty before school begins; new teacher group meetings about once every six weeks during the school year, focusing on a topic, such as parent-teacher conferences and technology. New teachers at Calvert are under our watchful eye, for sure! We all know that teachers make the Calvert experience special for students and parents. Our new faculty orientation and mentoring program is the first step along the path of a long and successful Calvert teaching career!

Middle School Art!

Both the quality and volume of art currently on display in the Middle School are truly impressive. The following eleven (yes, eleven!) projects presently adorn the walls and shelves of the building: ceramic coil pots, Wayne Thiebaud-inspired acrylic on canvas paintings, self-portraits in pencil, observational hand drawings, warm and cool portraits with tessalations (using acrylic paint), relief sculptures, ceramic teapots, Aztec sun prints, Islamic-inspired clay slab boxes, painted foam guitars, and a ceramic "dinner party" that includes a cheeseburger and fries, hot dogs, blueberry pancakes, spaghetti and meatballs, pizza, shish kabobs, bacon and eggs, and fruit. Kudos to Mrs. Kamp and her students for their significant accomplishments thus far this school year! Why am I not including any pictures with this post? I want you to come see these outstanding projects up close and in person! If you are interested in perusing this diverse array of artwork, e-mail me directly at amartire@calvertschoolmd.org and I will give you a personal tour. If we time the tour correctly, we can also visit an art class in progress and see students creating their next set of masterpieces.

Our Oldest Alumnus

Our oldest living alumnus is a member of the Class of 1924. She is a remarkable woman who lives in Naples, Florida, and I have had the great pleasure of meeting with her on three separate occasions over the past few years. Last week, we wished her a slightly-early birthday at our Calvert alumni event in Naples. In three weeks, this special alumnus will be 100 years old! She was a member of the last class to graduate from the Calvert building at 10 West Chase Street. (In the fall of 1924, Calvert moved to Tuscany Road, and we have been here ever since). With a clear memory and a sparkle in her eye, she told me of being sent to the Head Master's office in 1922: "I was sent to Mr. Hillyer's office for bursting into a classroom and shouting 'I have a baby sister. I have a baby sister!' I was just so excited I could not contain myself. Mr. Hillyer was very kind and said, 'It is fine to be excited about your sister, but you should not interrupt class.'" By the way, the baby sister she mentioned? She was a member of the Class of 1934, is now 90 years old, and attended the same Naples alumni event last week! I now have a picture of me with the two sisters, and I will sure to treasure that image for years to come.

A Prediction

This is a non-Calvert post, but tomorrow IS Super Bowl Sunday. Everyone makes predictions about the game, but are they courageous enough to put it in writing for the world to see? Well, I am courageous--or foolhardy--enough to do so: Patriots 24, Giants 20. Happy football and commercial watching to all my readers!

Writing in My Career

I had the pleasure of speaking to 10-A (one of our fourth grade girls' homerooms) about the centrality of writing in my career. A variety of parent and employee speakers have been visiting 10-A to discuss how they use writing and math in their daily lives as adults. I discussed the various ways that I write (e-mail, letter, report, text message, blog, handwritten note) and the importance of several key elements of writing: knowing your audience; the use of descriptive, non-repetitive vocabulary; proofreading; and revising. Whether the piece of writing is a composition or a dissertation, I explained, the writing process is essentially the same:

1) think of a topic

2) brainstorm ideas

3) make an outline

4) write

5) proofread

6) revise (with the help of a teacher or colleague) until it is your best effort.

Colorful Art Project

Long before the Tim Tebow craze was sweeping the country, Wayne Thiebaud (also pronounced "Tee-bow") was making a major impact within the art community. Best known for his colorful painting of cakes, pies, and baked goods, he was presented with the National Medal of Arts by President Clinton in 1994. Why do I mention Waybe Thiebaud in my Calvert blog? No, it is not because I love his prime subject of baked goods! Under the direction of Middle School art teacher Larisa Kamp, our 8th grade art students create Thiebaud-inspired paintings, and they are currently on display in the second floor landing of the Middle School. The paintings are terrific--bright, vivid images that come off the canvas and make the viewer yearn for the bakery. Please see below for some examples. Also, we hope to arrange a display of the paintings later in the semester at The Evergreen on Coldspring Lane. I will share details when they become available.

MLK Day of Service

We held our third annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service this morning, and it was a big success! Approximately 275 students, family members, and employees participated in a wide variety of on and off campus activities. Participants assembled sun butter and jelly sandwiches for Our Daily Bread; made scarves for the homeless; hand painted crafts for sick children; played bingo with the disabled; clipped coupons and wrote "sight words" for families who visit The Door; and assisted at Paul's Place and the Hampden Family Center, among other activities. Master storyteller (and former Calvert librarian) Karen Burdnell kicked off the morning by offering comments about Dr. King and sharing several family-friendly, interactive stories. In my brief opening remarks, I stated that the event was important for three reasons: 1) to serve the Baltimore community; 2) to honor the legacy of Dr. King; and 3) to build "community" within Calvert. Special thanks to Mrs. DeLorbe and Senora Sachar for organizing this wonderful day!

Impressive Students

Even though I have spent 15 years of life walking the halls of Calvert School--seven as a student and eight as Head Master--I remain continually impressed with poise, effort, and achievement of our students. On Wednesday, we held our second annual Middle School Fine Arts Night before a packed audience in the Black Box Theater. It was a wonderful evening displaying theater, dancing, singing, art, music, digital arts, and public speaking. Nearly 50 students participated! Also, there was a subset of those students who also played in interscholastic athletic events that afternoon and then hustled back to campus for Fine Arts Night. I truly appreciate how well they represented the School in all of their endeavors that day. This morning, we had our first-ever school-wide Martin Luther King, Jr. Assembly. (It was actually "almost" school-wide because the Pilot Class and 6th Age students followed their normal schedule while 7th Age through 8th grade gathered in the Middle School Gym). The assembly was incredible! An 8th grade girl offered her "Reflection" on her younger brother, who has special needs, followed by an 8th grade boy who recited a portion of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech. Both students were poised, articulate, and inspirational. The Middle School band also provided excellent musical accompaniment throughout the program. The assembly was the perfect way to begin the Martin Luther King weekend. On Monday, we will hold our third annual Martin Luther King Day of Service. I will report on those activities next week.

Book Recommendation

On a plane ride to and from Boston last week, I read The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore, and I recommend it highly. I had heard about the New York Times bestselling book for a year, and I finally had the perfect opportunity to read it. I am sure glad that I did, because it is a powerful story of family, education, and socioeconomics. The book cover states, "Two kids named Wes Moore were born blocks apart within a year of each other. Both grew up fatherless in similar Baltimore neighborhoods and had difficult childhoods; both hung out on street corners with their crews; both ran into trouble with the police. How, then, did one grow up to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated veteran, White House fellow, and business leader, while the other ended up a convicted murderer serving a life sentence?" If that question intrigues you in the slightest, pick up the book (or perhaps I should say "order it for your e-reader").

Important Admissions Reminder

If you are interested in Pilot Class or 6th Age for your child, I strongly recommend that you attend one of our two Prospective Parents Nights, which will be held on January 10 and January 18 in the Lower School. The program will run from 7:00 to 8:45 PM and will include time with administrators, homeroom teachers, and "specials" teachers (science, art, music, physical education, etc.). The beauty of the evening is that it is a concentrated look at our two biggest entry grades, and visitors get a chance to interact directly with teachers and other key employees. I hope to see you there!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all my readers! I hope that you had ample time to celebrate the holidays with your family and friends. I had a great break and was able to visit several museums in Washington, D.C. (Air and Space and Natural History) as well as participate in a Polar Bear Plunge yesterday in Margate, N.J. I dove all the way under the freezing cold water. I am still not exactly sure why I did it, but I did it! This week, we dive right back in to the school year. Classes, sports practices, and and extracurricular activities all resume. On Friday evening, the 5th grade will present Middle School Musical in the Auditorium. Next week, the events continue with a Prospective Parents' Night on Tuesday, 1/10, and a Middle School Fine Arts Night on Wednesday, 1/11. Best wishes for a wonderful, healthy, and productive 2012!