Off the bookshelf: "The Element" by Ken Robinson

Last week at the AIMS conference, I had the opportunity to hear one of the world's experts on creativity, Sir Ken Robinson.  Sir Ken is the author of the highly regarded Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative, and he lectures around the world spreading the idea that creativity can be cultivated, and that the range of human ability is extraordinarily rich and diverse.

His new book, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything is "a hymn to the breathtaking diversity of human talent and passion and to the extraordinary potential for growth and development."  Through dozens of vivid anecdotes, a review of the latest research on intelligence and creativity, and using his dry British wit, Robinson provides an inspiring roadmap for how individuals can cultivate and maximize their talents and passions.

The book resonated with me because it speaks to one of Gunston's core values: our desire to help each and every student discover, celebrate, and maximize their personal abilities and strengths.

Multim in Parvo

Gunston's annual magazine "Multum in Parvo" has been published for 2011.  It's a wonderful publication, and I encourage you to check it out!

Open publication - Free publishing - More alumni

Check out Gunston's new Admissions Viewbook

Open publication - Free publishing - More admissions

Steve Jobs

Here is a link to Steve Jobs' wonderful commencement address, "How to Live Before You Die", at Stanford in 2005: http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html

Education 2020

I follow the "Teach Paperless" blog, and in December of 2009, they published a post entitled "21 Things that will become obsolete in education by 2020."  At Gunston, we will be using this as a reference point for our ongoing conversations about the evolution of education, and as part of a discussion about how Gunston can maximize our small size and committment to personalization.

Ernie's Army Goes on the Offensive!

Brian Schlosser and Logan Leverage finishing the job!

On Saturday, September 17th, a group of students and parents, organized by the new Gunston Parents Association, came to school to help beautify our campus.  After two hours of pulling vinca, raking leaves, and trimming hedges, everyone felt a sense of accomplishment, and it was a beautiful day to be outside.  By the end of the event, the front of Middleton was vastly more attractive!


Of course, every hour volunteered by our students and parents not only makes our campus more beautiful and binds us together in fun and fellowship, but in this era of limited resources, it also allows us to direct our resources to the areas that we care most about: student programming and teacher development. 

Alex Kukorowski and Blaise Dickinson

Susan and Lizzie Katz

My daughter Bea working hard!

Community Letter: School Opening

As we begin the 2011-2012 school year, see my community letter that outlines the major initiatives for the year and introduces our new faculty: Community Letter