My daughter is studying inequalities in Algebra (begrudgingly). I am also struggling with similar equations: Feedback > Approval> Praise = satisfied colleagues I was recently copied on the following email. Dear Teacher (and you, Greg), While our son is grateful to the university for sending him to the conference to present on their behalf, hisContinue reading "Loyalty vs. Truth"
my 5 Ls.
(Excerpt from INSTALLATION OF 24th NEW HEAD OF SCHOOL: ADDRESS) ...This is a special community and, on behalf of my family including my wife and my three daughters out there, we are grateful for experiencing the legendary Lebanese hospitality and genuine interest in making sure we begin creating a home here at ACS and inContinue reading "my 5 Ls."
With or without you.
I have to admit something. I don't like the week after school ends; it reminds me of life without children. Of course, the campus has plenty of activity right now, with summer camp preparations, renovations projects already underway and our offices continuing their planning and maintenance. But it is different, and, more significantly, the energyContinue reading "With or without you."
the wrong way?
(an email to colleagues) Dear all, If you can't watch the video now, skip to the notes below and find time later on to watch. Sometimes we are so driven by what we are doing in the moment, we don’t realize we are headed the wrong way. Why do I share this, with four weeksContinue reading "the wrong way?"
Loving Luchadores
Can you wrestle, Daddy? Similar to just about every other aspect of their lives, I need to differentiate (alert educator's term) when being pummeled by my daughters on our king size bed. My oldest can actually push me over if she gets a running start and I am not braced on all fours. I haveContinue reading "Loving Luchadores"
El Cuidacarro
One of the greatest Christmas presents my wife and I received happened during my tenure in Costa Rica, about 20 years ago. I taught at a school in the idyllic suburbs of San Jose, but my wife worked downtown and walked to work through the chaotic streets everyday. While there was minimal violence in theContinue reading "El Cuidacarro"
Banged-up Fingers
About every other Saturday, I back the car out of the garage to make space for my girls (just like every other room in our house) to play ‘construction’. We have buckets of wires, wood pieces, shells, rocks, even some recycled trash I have found on the beach, along with basic tools such as hammers,Continue reading "Banged-up Fingers"
Nature’s Quiet Observer
On a recent trip my eldest was outnumbered by the amount of adults and little kids. The curse of our friends' having younger kids, she often has to figure out what she will do (though always invited to play). Yet, for the most part, she is an independent bug and finds solace in book, screenContinue reading "Nature’s Quiet Observer"
Ash and Entropy
I appreciated the flexibility through the end of the week’s volcano eruption and shift in program at our School. We continue to get updates from authorities and if we are asked to shift we will do so, however our prevailing decision-making will be about what is safe for us. Turrialba and its ash continue toContinue reading "Ash and Entropy"
Strapping the four logs together
You need to leave well in order to enter well. For those who have moved a number of times in their lives, particular to different cultures, the acronym R.A.F.T. (Reconciliation, Affirmation, Farewells, and Think destination) is a known concept about using each of those ‘logs’ as part of a process of leaving and arriving. This idea of buildingContinue reading "Strapping the four logs together"
Machete in Hand
Briefly after the School purchased the land for the new campus, I brought some of our leadership team out to look at the land and to see if it was real. I recall Mr. Large, our elementary principal, standing by a tree and asking if we were really going to build a school here andContinue reading "Machete in Hand"
Building Cairns 