Green-eyed monster...update! SBS 9-28-18
Most adults don’t actually want to go back to middle school….but the majority of conversations that I have these days includes adults wishing they could have gone to a place like Stony Brook when they were in middle school. No need to be jealous. When you start getting overwhelmed by the desire to relive your wonder years and dive into the amazing opportunities our students get throughout the day, remember the swarm of social media and constant barrage of competing forces vying for their attention and all the notes you may or may not have written that were easily forgotten or “lost”. Their awkward years are being archived forever.
Don’t be jealous.
Even while listening to your 6th grader talk about how awesome it is to collaboratively solve problems in their PE class or how they were able to partner with students from other teams to explore math resources not to mention assessing the execution of over 200 individual t-shirt designs inspired by scientists...don’t be jealous. If your 7th grader shares stories of creating cave paintings in the dark or taking over their math class and teaching their peers or express how proud they are that they can do play something now on an instrument that they couldn’t play a few weeks ago...don’t be jealous. If your 8th grader is going on and on about building hurricane or earthquake resistant prototypes of structures or connecting patterns of absolute value with the transferable skill of deductive reasoning or going outside to experience the joy and frustration of unbalanced competition while developing empathy in ELA...don’t be jealous.
Our day is full of opportunities for students to build their skills, both independently and collaboratively. It looks different everyday, in different classes and in different grades. But universally we are focused on developing students as independent learners. Regurgitating information is an expectation of the past. Even down to our safety protocols, we are supporting our students to think critically and respond independently. Today, as is part of our safety plans, we took time during Advisory to encourage students to problem solve and imagine how they might respond if they were informed that an intruder was in the building heading towards their classroom. Knowing that, when possible, evacuation is most likely the best strategy, we encouraged students to remove that as an option for the simple purpose of making sure that everyone was comfortable with strategies to secure their present location...and it seemed silly to make everyone run outside in the rain for the purpose of an exercise. The students responded very well and maturely...not always a sentence associated with middle school students.
Don’t be jealous.
As mentioned last week, this year we have a new opportunity to personalize the yearbooks. If orders are placed before September 30, families can receive a 15% discount. For more information, access this link: SB YEARBOOK 2018
Don’t be jealous.
Finally, on a more personal note, when I feel the need to fight off the green-eyed monster’s attempt to afflict me while reading all of the obligatory posts on social media from folks attending the Opera House commenting on being in the room where it happens eager to witness the phenom Hamilton mesmerize Boston audiences, I smile and remind myself that tonight I will be in the room where Tony Bennett will be singing live in Worcester. So, that’s happening... I’m just sayin’. Feel free to be jealous about that if you’d like.
Have a great weekend!
Chris
Dr. Christopher Chew
Principal
Stony Brook School
Attend Film Screening To Combat Toxic Masculinity
Pressured by the media, their peer groups, and even the adults in their lives, boys and young men confront messages encouraging them to disconnect from their emotions, devalue authentic relationships, objectify women, and resolve conflicts through violence. These gender stereotypes interconnect with race, class, and circumstance, creating a maze of identity issues boys and young men must navigate to become “real” men. Join the Westford Parent Connection and the Westford Coalition For Non-Violence on Wednesday, October 17, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. for a screening of the important film, The Mask You Live In. The film follows boys and young men as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating America’s narrow definition of masculinity.
The film – which is 90 minutes long – will be followed by a Q&A with Matthew Swoveland, executive director at The Second Step. The Second Step partners with survivors to address the aftermath of abuse, while working to identify and eradicate the roots of domestic violence. The evening promises to illustrate how we, as a society, can do better to raise a healthier generation of boys and young men.
The event is being held at the Stony Brook Middle School, 9 Farmer Way, Westford, at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 17. Due to the generosity of our sponsors, the event is free and open to the public. For more information about the film, go to http://therepresentationproject.org/film/the-mask-you-live-in/about-the-.... To learn more about The Second Step, check out https://thesecondstep.org/. For all other questions, go to https://www.westford.org/wpc/ or contact Mary Anne Seraphin at mary.anne.seraphin@gmail.com.
Westford Parent Support Group
Sponsored by the Westford Health Department. This support group is a free drop in group, available to any parent who is concerned that their child might be struggling with a mental health issue. This can be something such as ADD, or or some sadness, lots of worries or perhaps
something more defined. This is a pro bono group offered for parents to come
together and share ideas, offer support to each other and realize that they are not
alone in our concern for our children.
For more information about meeting dates, times and topics please access this link: Parent Support Group 2018