We are Oscar Mike in the Upper School right now.
We are moving out. We are not stationary. New schedule. New teachers. New students. New head. New this, new that. May be hectic, but at least we're moving. And we are moving forward.
Fort Worth Country Day is not afraid to self-evaluate. That makes me proud.
Here are some of the exciting things going on...
Career Conversation Series. The Career Conversation Series provides our kids the opportunity to learn about life after college through discussions with industry professionals. In an effort to tap into the vast professional knowledge of our parent and alumni community, we’ll be hosting monthly discussions about various careers. Each month’s program will have an industry focus (such as law, the arts, banking and finance, oil and gas exploration, etc.) and feature guests who will share their experiences and reflections on the field. The program is open to all Upper School students regardless of class and will meet during our announcement period. The first program is scheduled for September 3 and will address the field of law and feature Judge Melody Wilkinson and Mr. Mo Sheats.
Principal's Council. The purpose of this committee of ten students is to promote student-US Head communication and to facilitate action toward solving school challenges. I’ll pick the students this first year and we will meet monthly at my home on selected Sunday evenings. At our first meeting we will focus on “co-creation,” discuss collaboration techniques, and develop the meeting norms that will guide our discussions. The primary mechanism for our meetings will be the Harvard Protocol for Consultancy. Each meeting will focus on one challenge articulated by a Problem Statement. I believe our students have many great ideas and this is one venue for them to learn to creatively problem-solve. They'll also learn about me and what my job entails.
Engineering Design Class. Students in Jordan Hampton's engineering design class are discovering how modern engineers design and build new technologies using math and science. They are already beginning to understand the relevancy and application of mathematics, science, and technology to electrical, mechanical, environmental, and biomedical engineering. The US Commons, hallways, and Science Building are full of "engineering stuff" - duct tape, metal shards, Legos, skateboards, sails, weights, and I even saw a rubber mallet attached to fishing line. It looked like some kind of booby trap. It is wonderfully chaotic, but watch your step!
Faculty Working Groups. US Faculty Working groups are busy studying US-specific school problems and recommending solutions. Right now each group is looking into the challenges of our new block schedule and discovering ways to address them. The groups (which average five teachers) meet during common free periods and will make monthly reports to the Upper School faculty. We have an incredibly caring, resourceful, and imaginative faculty. I can't wait to see what they come up with.
Upper School Class Deans. Upper School class deans are responsible for class-wide programming, seeking out and supporting new programs for class-wide advancement, working with me on class-specific conduct issues, working with PFA representatives when necessary, coordinating advising activities with grade-level advisors, and providing professional feedback and counsel to me. Our deans are Molly Risewick-Zeno, Kendall Davis, Christy Alvear, and Maggie Philpot.
Debating Society. I believe that schools of our caliber – with our noble mission – need debating societies. Debate programs are fun, allow our students to build friendships while developing critical public speaking skills. Most students naturally avoid public speaking -- and debate provides a non-threatening environment to practice these skills so that down the road when they’re called on to speak in college or on the job, they will have the skills necessary to do it well. Debating also develops analytical skills - the ability to critically analyze a problem and propose workable solutions is invaluable. Debate also teaches students to become world-class researchers. (Ask any college student and they’ll tell you how valuable this is.)
We are Oscar Mike in the Upper School.
Dinner table question of the week:
If someone tells an offensive joke, is it my responsibility to speak up about it?
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