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

Greetings GreenMount Community,

On Saturday, Ms. Elaine and I presented at the 2^nd Annual Progressive Schools Summit, held at City Neighbors Hamilton High School.  Our presentation focused on the work we have been doing to create a culture of excellence at our school.  The workshop went well and our audience asked a lot of questions about our direction and how we were trying to inculcate the idea of excellence as an important part of the school culture.  The discussion was very interesting and also gave us pause to reflect on our success so far.  We explained to our audience that cultural shifts in a school can take years to occur, and even though GreenMount students are generally the kind of students who strive for excellence, it isn’t always obvious that this is something that is intrinsic.

So today, I asked the students at our Monday Morning Meeting how they think we are doing in our pursuit of a culture of excellence. I was pleased to learn that they understand excellence as being the quality of work that represents their best effort, and something they care about.  Students also shared that their excellent work is a result of the tools they have in their toolboxes.  One younger student expressed that each of us has a big tool in our toolbox that is something for which they have a special talent.  Several students then gave examples of those big tools that they possess, and it was interesting to hear what they thought were their special tools. Each example, by the way, was fodder for a discussion about why their special talent was important.  One student mentioned fencing as his special tool. Through questioning, it was determined that in order to fence well, one must be disciplined and in good physical condition.  When questioned by a teacher about his acquisition of this skill, it became apparent that it took many tries to find success to be even considered adequate as a fencer.

This led to discussion of the fact that, in order to produce excellent work, it takes many tries and failures before something becomes a permanent part of our toolboxes.  I think that we are making good progress in this effort, and I encourage all parents to be part of the discussion with your children.  Here are some important points to emphasize as you discuss excellence around the dinner table:

• Excellence represents that which you care deeply about and something that reflects the best you can do given the tools you have.
• Many “drafts” or attempts to reach a goal are required before you can attain excellence.
• Excellence can only be attained by establishing a value for the product.
• Once a value is established and understood, it takes effort and hard work to achieve excellence.
• All of us have special talents and creativity. We can attain excellence by using our best tools and improving others so that our toolbox becomes full of useful things.
• Excellence comes as a result of trials, errors and, many times, disappointment.
• We all have examples of achieving excellence.  Share them with your children.  Discuss how you used the tools in your toolbox to create an excellent product.

“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” - Aristotle

Cheers,

Steve