Rigorous Pursuit

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go."

Anything of value is rarely acquired without its “rigorous pursuit.” Even though we may wish for chance or luck to bring us what we desire, it almost never happens that way. Something of value must first be recognized and identified, its acquisition planned for and pursued. This pursuit cannot be haphazard and tangential; rather it must be focused and deliberate. In responding to a reporter who asked how it felt to have failed 2000 times before successfully inventing the light bulb, Thomas Edison famously replied, “I never failed once. It just happened to be a 2000-step process.”

This journey to successful achievement is rarely easy; it is often fraught with frustration and confusion. Unhappiness can often muddy the road forward, slowing down our progress, trying our patience, and testing our will. These inevitable setbacks must not deter us; they must become the lessons of our curricula—the teachings gleaned from our experiences. “The will,” Muhammed Ali told us, “must be stronger than the skill.” Learning to work through and overcome hardship or struggle is synonymous with rigorous pursuit and what follows this, is the sine qua non of true learning.

In its opening sentence, our school’s mission identifies “rigorous academic pursuit” not only as a value to be cherished, but a behavior to be learned. The “rigor” we refer to focuses not on strictness and severity, but rather on deliberate, thoughtful, and persistent pursuit. Whether it’s light bulbs, boxing crowns or academic achievement, successfully acquiring what we desire or value depends upon how rigorously we pursue it. This year’s calendar takes this notion from our school’s mission and explores its myriad application to the boys’ experience at Saint David’s School. As T.S. Eliot reminds us in this letter’s opening quote, it is precisely because of this purposeful pursuit that deeper learning occurs.

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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...

"Lord of the Flies" Survival Game

Seventh graders are immersed in an "island survival" adventure related to their study of William Golding's 1954 classic Lord of the Flies . The novel tells the story of a group of school-age boys marooned on an uninhabited island, where they struggle to survive without a government or rules. In this creative, unique activity that spans 10 class sessions, our boys are assigned to belong to one of two "tribes." Using knowledge gained from history classes in the fall, they first determine what type of government system to adopt. During the simulations, they strategize methods to overcome obstacles and acquire resources such as wood, food, shelter, and water. The simulation requires the boys to negotiate, debate, and reflect critically on their decisions as they face challenges to their survival. In journals, they regularly write about their thinking, their decisions and consequences. Writing skills are further developed and honed. In addition to analy...

Digital Universe Unit With AMNH-Hayden Planetarium Kicks Off

The second year of our unique partnership with the American Museum of Natural History-Hayden Planetarium kicked off on Friday when the sixth grade had their first session of the Digital Universe unit. The session included a private viewing at the planetarium in which boys were able to explore the entire universe. They and their teachers were invited to view the show from the vantage point of the floor in the center of the round theater, staring up into the apex of the dome. What an amazing perspective! Museum educator and astro-visualization expert Nathan Belomy took the boys on a tour of the observable universe, allowing them to get a feel for the scale of distance and size in the universe. In a fun activity related to scale, the boys set down a volleyball (representing the sun) at 79th Street, and walked for blocks down Columbus avenue with the planets in our solar system represented by a variety of smaller objects – a cupcake sprinkle, a marble – predicting and then m...

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