January 20, 2021 Amanda Gorman reads her inauguration poem, ‘The Hill We Climb’
A leader of all people – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (& words/song of remembrance from Pete Seeger) “The future of the world depends on people talking together, even if they disagree strongly.”
“World peace through nonviolent means is neither absurd nor unattainable. All other methods have failed. Thus we must begin anew. Nonviolence is a good starting point. Those of us who believe in this method can be voices of reason, sanity, and understanding amid the voices of violence, hatred, and emotion. We can very well set […]
a whole experience, filled with true joy, unforgettable memories, and lessons learned
by Gabriella H., Eighth Grade (as shared by her mother at our January Open House – Gabriella, who has spoken at past OH’s, without being asked, composed and offered this the night before because she did not want to miss her Science test! – I feel moved to share her reflections and personal expression of […]
Their audacity, courage, and gifted capacities were all on display
In my opinion, great educators see teaching not as a job but as a vocation – a calling and a professional pursuit that is particularly worthy and that requires great personal investment and extra dedication. . . I’ve worked with many extraordinary educators over the course of my decades-long career – including at some very […]
Deeper Learning
During this concise and clear 3-minute video, Pedro Noguera shares his thoughts about how we can create a learning community that helps students develop the higher-order thinking skills essential for solving problems and promoting justice in the world around them. This speaks to me about BFS’s mission, core values, and what we believe, stand for, […]
True Grit: Can Perseverance Be Taught?
I continue to be interested in the work of Positive Psychologist Angela Duckworth, Ph.D., known for her original, broadly regarded research on grit and self-control. Dr. Duckworth is the founder and CEO of Character Lab, a nonprofit whose mission is to advance scientific insights that help children thrive. She is also the Rosa Lee and Egbert […]
The Right Way to Talk About Politics With Your Kids, According to Experts (Keep it civil – even if the candidates can’t.)
It is stating the obvious that the 2020 elections are upon us and dominating the news during unprecedented, contentious, and stressful times. As a school, we will observe, teach about, and process the elections – before and after – with an attention to developmental-appropriateness and the importance of discourse, respect for differences and different people and […]
Eight Suggestions for Establishing, Maintaining, and Improving and Parent-Teacher Relations
As we settle into this new year, and one that asks us to re-establish, develop and take care of the relationships that foster a positive and constructive home-school relationship – all in the interest of student success – I offer some thoughts gleaned from a New York Times article that was published several years ago. […]
A Minute of Appreciation from The School Board of Buckingham Friends School
As we celebrate the successful completion of the first ten days of the 2020-2021 school year and prepare for our very first virtual Back-to-School Nights, I am proud to share the Minute that was read at last week’s School Board meeting. This Minute of appreciation recognizes and thanks our faculty and staff, and it will […]
Welcome and thoughts about our shared endeavor – supporting the promise of a new year
I write to offer a warm welcome to everyone and share a few thoughts as we begin a new school year – our 226th year – at Buckingham Friends School. But first, the big news is that 45 new students (and 38 new families) have joined and are already contributing to the quality of our […]