Message From Head of School
Jean Waller Brune
If ever there is a time in the academic year when “spiritual well-being” is at the forefront of my thinking, it is now between mid-November and the New Year. In the heart of our School philosophy is the sentence: “The School encourages self-discipline, independence of thought, tenacity of purpose, creativity, and spiritual well-being.” Last week at our Thanksgiving All-School Convocation, I noted that both “thank” and “think” come from the same Old English root word and asked that we all be thoughtful – at Thanksgiving and throughout the year – in remembering to give thanks to people who have helped us and for the many bounties in all our lives.
I shared with the School community an e-mail that had been sent to me about a group of students who were asked to list what they thought were the present “Seven Wonders of the World.” Predictably they were: the Great Pyramids in Egypt, the Taj Mahal in India, the Grand Canyon and the Empire State Building in the United States, St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and the Great Wall in China. The teacher, noticing that one girl had not turned in her paper, asked if she needed help. The girl replied that she was having trouble deciding because there were so many. The teacher asked her to read what she had written so far. The girl replied, “The Seven Wonders of the World are to see, to hear, to touch, to taste, to feel, to laugh and to love.” Isn’t it true that all too often we overlook or take for granted the simple pleasures of life that are actually the most important and precious gifts of all?
That student was not a Roland Parker. But our students, too, and the adults who help them are just as thoughtful. This afternoon I came into the building by way of the Multi-Purpose Room. Although I had seen it before, this was the first time that I really stopped to look at the gigantic wall hanging by that stairwell. Mounted on an earthy colored background are quilt squares designed and made by our current 3rd and 4th graders. These squares are worth a reflective look by us all. Their theme is best expressed by the quote from environmental architect William McDonough which frames the squares: “Make the world safe for all children of all species for all time.” Many thanks go to those students for pointing us in the right direction for “spiritual well-being.” Thanks go also to their teachers Melissa Annen, Ann Davis and Wendy Torres for directing this project. Special thanks go to alumna and current parent Coverley Steinmann Biedleman, 1981 who managed to sew this enormous patchwork project into one unified piece.
I was coming in through the Multi-Purpose Room door because I was going to thank our 4th and 5th graders. Last week the 4th graders held a bake sale and the 5th graders a fun fair to raise monies to help build two schools – our RPCS athletic center and the school for students in Sierra Leone. Their combined efforts raised $1159.80 and demonstrate so well what a group of determined, creative girls can do when they are committed to projects bigger than themselves. They deserve thanks for their efforts and for modeling what the true spirit of giving is all about.
I hope to see all of you on campus this coming Saturday at the Holiday Fair, sponsored by our Parents’ Association. This event is always joyous and full of fun for children and adults alike. Because we do not have an athletic center this year, we are in special need of your support and spirit of adventure to come discover how all the traditional events, activities and booths have found new and surprising “homes” in our academic building! Thanks go to the many parent volunteers who have been working tirelessly through the fall and in particular to Lynn Pié, Holiday Fair Coordinator, Jeannette McGowan, Set Up Coordinator, Sally Barley, Treasurer, Laurel Peltier and Debby Miran, Greens Chairs and Sharon Credit, President of the Parents’ Association for their leadership of this event.
“Think” and “thank” – filled my letter to you this month and continue to fill my heart when I think of our students and thank you for sending them to fill the classrooms and hallways of Roland Park Country School.
~ J.W.B.