Many of Us Traveled ...

... extensively this week. Fourth Grade boys took us on a journey with them along the Silk Road (the Headmaster's Office was Rome) and the Second Grade to the founding generation--revolutionary Americans. Extending for more than 7,000 miles, the ancient trade routes that comprised "the Silk Road" (200 BC through 200 AD approx.) enabled people to transport goods such as silk, satin, musk, spices, medicines, jewels, and glassware, as well as serving as a conduit for the spread of knowledge, ideas, and cultures between different parts of the world--Ancient China, Ancient India, Asia Minor and the Mediterranean--contributing to the development of the great civilizations of China, Egypt, Rome, Persia and India, to name a few. The boys moved along Saint David's "Silk Road" trading and exchanging throughout with equal daring and influence. The halls and stairwells were aglow with color, movement and noisy "trade."

In the Wax Museums of the Pi, Theta and Chi classrooms on Thursday, Madame Tussauds would have been proud. The Second Graders, before the coin was dropped in the slot, were as frozen as any wax figure on 42nd Street. Once engaged though, they came alive and spoke convincingly of their rightful place in the founding history of America. Incredible job! They were so very serious--wigs and all.

In both cases the boys were physically engaging, through role-play, with history, bringing to life their studies of Ancient Civilizations (4th grade) and American History (2nd grade). What a week!

Comments

OLIVER!

This morning our fifth graders continued a great year-end tradition at Saint David's, The Fifth Grade Musical. The boys performed Oliver! and they were fantastic, providing impressive performances and demonstrating great vocal ability. They have been mastering the dialogue and musical numbers for weeks, and clearly gave it their all. Congratulations to the cast on a job well done, and to their Producers/Teachers James Hubbard and Jamie MacNeille, Director Phyllis Clark, Musical Conductor Jeff Moore, and the Parent Committee of Cynthia Chapman, Susan Kissane, Tara Neumann, Joyce Restituto, and Ann Roberts. Musical theater is alive and well at Saint David's!

Fascinating Art Talk by Michelle Marder Kamhi at Grandparents Event

Yesterday evening, independent scholar and critic Michelle Marder Kamhi ( www.mmkamhi.com ), co-editor with husband Louis Torres of Aristos , an online review of arts; author of Who Says That's Art? A Commonsense View of the Visual Arts ; and grandmother of two Saint David's boys, gave a thought provoking talk on art for our grandparent community. An advocate of objective standards in arts scholarship and criticism, Ms. Kamhi focused her talk on the ways in which art critics such as Clement Greenberg promoted the shift from representational art to abstraction. Kamhi argues that the abstract and post-modern art prevalent today, which often requires explanation by docents in order to be understood, goes against art's purpose. Taking issue with Greenberg's contention that representation is an expendable convention of painting, she quoted the late art critic John Canaday: "Art is the tangible expression of the intangible values that men live by." ...

NE Patriot Tom Brady at Saint David’s

Last night, Saint David’s was honored to have one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, four time Superbowl champion and three-time MVP winner Tom Brady, as the guest speaker for our Alumni Parents Council Lecture Series. Tom, who is the father of one of our Saint David's boys, addressed a standing-room-only audience in Hyman Hall comprised of our eighth graders, alumni, alumni parents and faculty. Friendly, introspective, witty, and wise, he directed his talk to the delighted eighth graders in the front of the room, and focused on the topic of leadership. “You are the young men and leaders of Saint David’s,” he noted. Tom debunked the perception that leaders are born not made, and credited his leadership abilities to “standing up to and facing fears” and to “cultivating a mental strength,” which he cited as “more important than being physically strong.” He also stressed the importance of working hard, honoring teamwork, believing in oneself and being a good lis...

Headmaster's Blog

Search This Blog