Weekly Message from Steve Warner, Head of School (May 29, 2012)

Greetings GreenMount Community,

            As this year comes rapidly to a close, it is important to celebrate accomplishments and acknowledge those responsible for them.  In the afterglow of our latest achievement on Thursday, it is altogether fitting and proper to applaud the accomplishments of our students and teachers and all that they learned in our Baltimore theme.  As I thought about how this theme stacked up against others, I found it hard to compare.  Some very popular themes have involved a great deal of performance by students, such as All the World’s a Stage or a showcase of interesting art projects such as in From Caves to Canvas.

This theme was different.  While we saw much of the students’ project work and a lot of their artwork, I felt that what was showcased on Thursday was the learning that took place.  Yes, a great deal of learning takes place with each theme – that’s what we are all about.  But the Baltimore theme was close to home and provided a unique opportunity for our kids to explore neighborhoods, businesses and historical landmarks around the city.  Unlike the China theme, which involved virtual experiences for the students, Baltimore is where we live and the surprises about our own turf gave students and teachers a new appreciation for city life in Baltimore.  The theme event itself, while well done and comprehensive, could not do justice to the experiential opportunities that our students had, and will continue to have right up to the last week of school.  We have also been very fortunate to have special parent involvement during this theme, which resulted in visits nearly every Friday from local artists and Baltimore notables such as Gilbert Sandler.  We are very appreciative of the wonderful connections we have with parents who know how to access especially interesting human resources.

            The themes this year have been especially interesting and rewarding.  Just think about what our students did and compare those experiences with the kinds that students have in other schools.  Where else will you find thirty students expertly demonstrating eight Tai Chi moves in synchronization, or a group of students marching into battle with the 5^th Wisconsin from Seminary Ridge to Culp’s Hill in Gettysburg? How many students in other schools understand community revitalization as a result of talking to community organizers and business owners and then present a convincing argument for a five-year plan? Where else will primary students learn to sing in excellent Mandarin Chinese? Where else will students learn the political and economic realities of the cause of the Civil War?  Over and over again, we remain true to our philosophy of creating “deep smarts” through themes and project-based learning.

            Another fine example of how our students are being prepared to meet the challenges of the future is the success of our Destination Imagination team who competed in the global problem-solving competition in Tennessee this past week. After winning problem-solving competitions in the region and in the state, they surpassed 87 of the 98 teams from all over the world competing in their category.  They did this in spite of a technological glitch that required on-the-spot creativity and problem-solving for which they were praised by the judges.  They also doubled their score from the state competition in the spontaneous problem-solving activity.  The students on our team learned a lot about competing on a global level and made many new friends from other countries.  They were candid about what they could have done better in order to increase their chances of moving up the ladder.  But they were happy with their accomplishments and appreciative of what the experience offered them.  Word has it that they are already planning for next year!

I continue to be amazed, even after six years at GreenMount, at the creativity of teachers, the unbelievable support of parents and the raw talent of our students.  Thanks to all who make our school so important to the students who will face the next two decades and all the challenges that they will offer. We can’t predict the future because it is a blur of change.  But we do know that our kids will have to deal with it, and in order to do that successfully, they will have to have flexible thinking that will allow them to solve problems, be creative, and work well with others.  I have been in this business for 44 years and I know (I know!) that we have the right formula for learning and preparing students for the challenges they will face in an uncertain world.  Cheers to all GreenMountaineers!  We do it right!

Steve    

Weekly Message from Steve Warner, Head of School (May 14, 2012)

Greetings GreenMount Community,

            Power to the Parents!!  If we could choose one way to showcase the community spirit that exists so strongly at GreenMount, it would be Taste of Summer.  All year long, parents make significant contributions of their time, expertise and considerable energy, but this one event seems to be the steamroller activity that engages so many and with such energy.  The troops muster as a “call to arms” is signaled. From every doorway in our school community come chefs, landscapers, artists, floral design specialists, auctioneers,  lighting experts, and a plethora of “worker bees” who almost trip over each other helping with the planning, solicitation, setting up, serving, and clean-up.  Never will you see a more dedicated, hard-working group of parents.  And it will be a significant stretch for anyone on the planet to find someone like Jill Goodman.  I hope that everyone realizes the professionalism and intelligent approach to development that she has brought to our school and her sense of taste, which gives our small school, big school class and sophistication.  We love being different at GreenMount, but adding some real class helps us realize that we can also compete well with other schools for talented, caring families.

            Taste of Summer was a very successful event and, once the counting is done, I am sure we will realize our monetary goal.  But as Jill points out, the value of this event may be greater than that which is measured in dollars and cents.  Everyone was just having fun and appreciating each other.  We got to see the social side of our community and appreciate so many other things about grown-ups other than the fact that they are parents of our students.  We got to see some interesting dancers, too! 

            Finally, we must consider how this fantastic event affects our students.  Many of them enjoyed a night away from the watchful eyes of their parents and had control of the clicker (I know what that feels like).  But more importantly, they understand that their parents are part of a larger community that works together to achieve many things for our school, and for them.  We also see evidence of the contributory spirit of parents in our kids.  This morning, students coming into the gym saw that we were cleaning up and immediately asked what they could do to help.  They get this from you and already have learned the value of cooperative group efforts – a great bonus of the CO-OP.

             At today’s Monday Morning Meeting, we were treated to The Soul Seven production that our Destination Imagination team will take to compete in Tennessee.  It was excellent!  And tomorrow WBAL-TV 11 News will be here to see the production and to do a story on our kids.  Stay tuned!

Cheers,

Steve

                

Weekly Message from Steve Warner, Head of School (May 7, 2012)

Greetings GreenMount Community,

            Today, at our Morning Meeting, I asked the students the significance of the number twenty-four.  I received several unexpected answers, such as, “It’s the reverse of 42,” which has some astrological significance that I did not understand.  Someone else contributed, “May the 4^th be with you,” which was interesting, but not exactly what I was looking for.  A student did mention that he thought it was the number of days left in the school year.  Indeed, that is true and the topic of my discussion with them.

            There are certain phenomena which occur in schools every year.  In 44 years at this education business, I can tell you that in a typical school year the teachers and students go through several cycles, which result in, shall we say, personality reconfigurations.  Every year, for example, at least one teacher comes to me in September to say that the students she/he has in the class “don’t know anything!”  Of course, that’s not true.  They know just what they are supposed to know based on their entry to the next grade.  The problem is that the teacher has just left her/his “end product” – students who are producing just what they should produce at the end of the year.  This then becomes a testament to what great things are accomplished in 170 days.

The end of the year brings with it several of the “reconfigurations” I mentioned.  The kids and the teachers are looking forward to the summer while trying to complete everything, including all parts of the curriculum, preparing for the last theme event, and concluding projects.  This year is especially frantic as we continue to embark on many field trips associated with the Baltimore theme.  So, I spoke to the teachers and students about the need for all of us to be patient with one another during these last 24 days.  Tensions can run high and students can make poor choices.  Adults can also add to the mix with their choices and some frustration as they attempt to get everything done.  Let’s all relax, have fun with the remaining days and look forward to a summer during which we sharpen the saw in preparation for another successful year at GMS.

            Finally, I am pleased to announce to you that we have hired an additional full-time teacher to handle much of the language arts instruction, especially for our middle school students.  I am purposefully vague about “much of the language arts instruction” as we are still working on the schedule, which will determine her full assignment. Our new teacher, Allison Fistere, has a master's degree in secondary English education.  She has been teaching since 2004 and continues to grow as a student herself as she is taking coursework in AP Language and Composition at Goucher College.  She also has taken coursework in special education and writing workshops at St John’s College.  Allison will be a great addition to our staff.

Deliberately seek opportunities for kindness, sympathy and patience.

Evelyn Underhill

Cheers,

Steve

Weekly Message from Steve Warner, Head of School (April 30, 2012)

Greetings GreenMount Community,

                This morning, our 7^th and 8^th grade students and a group of very brave parents and teachers set off for their four-day camping experience at the Jane’s Island campground in Crisfield, Maryland.  Each year that we have gone there the students, parents and teachers have had a good experience and we suspect, especially given the weather forecast, that the same will be true this year.

At The GreenMount School, we have a long tradition of exposing our students to camping as a way to appreciate our natural surroundings and as a way to build confidence in what might be a venue very foreign to many.  In a way, we are teaching some important survival skills by making our students responsible for most of the camping experience.  They will be establishing their own campsite, cooking and cleaning up as well as organizing various activities.  The students also learn interdependence as they participate in activities that require teamwork and patience.  Not unlike the 8^th graders’ trip to Costa Rica, the campers will come away from this experience with new understandings about nature and our place in it.  And yes, some students will definitely be in it as they wade through marshes and perhaps find themselves on the wrong side of their canoe.  Bugs, dirt, sand, water, sun and will all leave their marks on our campers. And when they return on Friday we will all be treated to the unmistakable aroma of campfires and a little good old sweat.  In this way, our students also learn a little of what early settlers to the Eastern Shore had to learn in order to establish those first settlements in Maryland.  Much of the land around Jane’s Island looks the same as it probably did 300 years ago.  The wildlife has been depleted since that time, but examples of most species still exist today.  For our dreamers, they may close their eyes and picture themselves in that time when the bay was clear and flora and fauna undisturbed.  They may listen to the sound of geese or the distant screech of an eagle high above.  The stars will be closer and the air cleaner, transporting them back in time, until… “Hey, c’mon, we’re doing s’mores and telling ghost stories!”

                Last week’snewsletter included a flier for Hopkins EpiCurious, which is a club of sorts that is designed to expose students to adventures in culinary art.  Students from Johns Hopkins University will be coming to the school beginning tomorrow to work with students in grades 3-5 after school to learn about cooking and to actually explore some interesting dishes that they can prepare.  Check the flier from last week for details.  

Cheers,

Steve

Weekly Message from Steve Warner, Head of School (April 23, 2012)

Greetings GreenMount Community,

            Counting today, we have 34 days left in the school year.  It is interesting how some times during the school year seem to go faster than others.  The last 30 days of school typically fly by, and before we know it we are into summer vacation.

Around here, we are gearing up for the final theme event on May 24 and hurrying to complete curricular goals. We are also busy finishing next year’s calendar, handbook and class lists.  We hope to have the latter ready for you prior to the end of the school year, along with lists of classroom supplies.  You will receive the calendar and handbook at our May 7 parent meeting.

            At this time of the year we also plan for summer activities.  Believe it or not, the summer is very busy for those of us who are here during that time.  There is much planning to be done, and meetings with full staff to set goals and priorities are also held.  It is a time of the year when a lot gets done with the building.  This summer we have several projects that are available for parents to earn co-op hours.  Please keep in mind that work done prior to June 30 will be applied to this year’s cop-op hours and work done after that will apply to next year’s hours.  Here is a snapshot of work that needs to be done during the summer:

• General cleaning (cob web patrol, sanitizing desks, etc.)
• Power washing learning cottage deck and art room floor
• Touch-up painting of doors and walls
• Installation of pavers in front of Ms. Elizabeth’s room
• Planting of vegetable gardens (in May)
• Noise reduction in gym (This is a big project, placing 4x8 sheets of Homasote covered with cloth on virtually all gym wall surfaces)
• Refinishing stage floor and steps
• Carpet shampooing
• Minor repairs
• Lighting repairs

We know that the co-op sometimes interferes with weekend activities such as sports or family outings, and we certainly do not want to infringe on things that you do as a family.  We have been considering offering different workdays, such as Sundays, or in the evening, and we hope that you will weigh in on those possibilities.  Please keep in mind that the co-op provides the school with much-needed skills that we would otherwise have to pay for during the course of the year.  In fact, our roughly 150 parents, each required to contribute 40 hours of service to the co-op program, translate to 6,000 hours’ worth of work.  And at $20/hr., the in-kind contribution of parents offsetting work that would be otherwise contracted is close to $120,000.  Imagine if we had to spread that cost among our families in the form of tuition!  For just 100 students, that would be an increase in tuition of $1,200, to $9,800 per year.

Additionally, the co-op provides the opportunity for parents to work as cooperative teams and form relationships that are much more valuable than can be measured in dollars and cents.  The co-op is a tradition here at GMS, one that we proudly hail as much of the glue that brings us together.  I have always said that the most important benefit of the co-op is the fact that our students get to see their parents in the school, contributing to its health and demonstrating their support for learning in a safe, comfortable environment.  This is, as they say, priceless.

Cheers,

Steve

Weekly Message from Steve Warner, Head of School (April 16, 2012)

Greetings GreenMount Community,

            On May 7, at 6:30 p.m., we will have our All Family Meeting, and as part of the meeting I will present a brief “state of the school” address.  Basically, I will be telling you that the school is prospering and we are in a healthy state financially.  We anticipate that we will have nearly full enrollment of about 102 students when we open our doors in September.  With that expectation we have made some staffing changes, which I now present to you:

            Ms. Pam will be moving to take over the 2^nd/3^rd grade class and Ms. Tanza will become the 4/5 homeroom teacher.  Ms. Elizabeth will not have a homeroom this coming year.  We have been in the process of hiring a new full-time teacher to be responsible for middle school language arts along with other teaching duties for the lower grades.  It is interesting to note that I have interviewed 15 individuals for this position, five of whom the entire staff will interview next week.  We have had a great response to our position posting on the AIMS web site and many of those who responded are very talented.  We will know by next Friday which candidate we will be hiring.  Other full-time staff positions will remain the same.  However, until we complete the schedule, we will not be able to tell you what each teacher’s responsibilities will be.

On the part-time side, I am sorry to announce to you that Mr. Ellis will not be returning next year.  It seems that his incredible talent as a musician has resulted in more and more requests for his presence as such and he has decided to dedicate his full time to the expansion of his art.  Mr. Ellis has long been an important and creative member of our community and has become the friend of all he has met.  He will be missed in the classroom, playing for our theme events and herding eighth graders around the jungles of Costa Rica. As this Monday newsletter goes home, he has not yet shared the information about his departure with the students and I expect he will be talking to them tomorrow during his classes.  I think it safe to say that the students do not read my head message, so please keep this information confidential until tomorrow.  The Cultural Studies program will continue, but in the form in which it originated.  That is, Cultural Studies will only be offered for students in grades 6-8.  Mr. Fletcher will be taking on that responsibility as part of his teaching load.  More to follow…

            You have heard me talk often about our efforts to have students understand the meaning of excellence.  We have been working with students to foster an intrinsic desire to do excellent work and, indeed, such is the case with many of our students.  A wonderful case in point is the fact that this weekend our Destination Imagination team (The Soul Seven) competed in the state finals, having won the regional finals already.  Their hard work and pursuit of an excellent solution to their “problem” has resulted in the opportunity to compete in the GLOBAL competition to be held Memorial Day weekend in Tennessee!  This is an outstanding accomplishment, a tribute to excellence and a very special way for our school to be represented on a global scale.  This recognition also is a tribute to our efforts as a school community to foster creativity, risk-taking, and innovation.  Additionally, it is a credit to the support of parents like Linda Pietila and Dale Meyers, who provided the encouragement and support for this team to reach such heights.  We are all very proud of the parents and students who have earned The GreenMount School this recognition.

Cheers,

Steve

Weekly Message from Steve Warner, Head of School (April 10, 2012)

Greetings GreenMount Community,

            At this morning’s meeting, we heard from many students about their adventures over the spring break.  It is fun to hear how excited they were about their various trips and experiences and it is obvious that, as parents, you are making every effort to enrich your children’s lives, whether on a trip to another state or by taking them to our Baltimore Zoo.  It seems that a lot of you took advantage of the many things that our state has to offer.  We are very fortunate to live in Maryland where we can be at either the beach or in the mountains in just three hours.

Today, I talked to the students a little about the importance of learning outside of school.  Often, you have more opportunities to expose your children to experiential learning than we do at school, and I encourage you to continue to provide those enriching experiences that are offered locally and in other exciting places. I also recommend that you always learn about your destination before going so that you have a good set of questions with which you can engage your children in meaningful discussions.  For example, many of us go “downey oshun,” where the object for the trip is the same for adults and children – relax on the sand and enjoy the waves.  But have you ever thought about all the questions that you could create just by being on the sand or in the water?

• What is sand?
• What is it made of?
• How long does it take to make sand?
• Why is sand so hot on a 90-degree day?
• How does sand change when mixed with water?
• What makes a wave?
• Why do waves curl?
• What causes the tides?
• And many more….

If you do your homework and research before going on family trips, you will be surprised at the level of conversation you can engage in with your children.  They are curious at any age, and when you share that curiosity nothing can be a more powerful learning tool.  One of my most memorable moments with my youngest daughter was one night when she was about nine, when we sat on a lifeguard stand looking up at the night sky.  I asked her if she thought it is possible to see the past and the present at the same time.  She said, “Daddy, how can you see the past? It’s gone.”  Look at the stars, I told her, and you will see the past in the present.  This confused her a little, until I explained that the light from those stars started out to reach our eyes millions of years ago and that what we were looking at right then was something happening long, long ago.  I wasn’t sure if she fully understood, but now, as 35-year-old young woman, she often talks of that time as one of the best experiences she ever had with her dad.  Now she explains the idea of the speed of light to my grandson.  She has added a challenge to her talk.  “Look at that star,” she tells Connor.  “Do you see it?  It’s not there!”

Cheers,

Steve