Friends, Today is our student-planned and set up our annual Double Rainbow carnival. The theme is “Decades,” and it’s fascinating to see how students interpret the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Recently I wrote about the value of play at Crossroads. We make time for play because it benefits our relationships, builds common experiences, and creates a kind of synergy among …

Friends, I have been thinking a lot about the Direct Drive exhibition at the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM), the community response to it, and the effort of CAM’s Black administrative staff to call for curatorial, programmatic, and institutional adjustments at CAM. I wrote a letter to their senior administrators reflecting my thoughts about the exhibit with the support of our …

September 23, 2016 Dear CAM Senior Directors: I am writing on behalf of the Crossroads College Preparatory School community to share that we will not engage with the Contemporary Art Museum as part of any of our art classes or other programs until the demands of CAM’s Black administrative museum staff are met. It is clear that the Direct Drive …

Friends, This week while I was observing in Amy’s art class, she talked with her middle schoolers about how artists practice, play, and process. I found the students’ observations and reflections (both a part of processing) to be really interesting and insightful. I also found these three Ps to be compelling to my own thinking about our community at Crossroads. …

Friends, I am looking forward to Parent Night this evening. While you are visiting, I hope you take an opportunity to view Crossroads, the teachers, and the learning through a young person’s eyes. When I encourage grown-ups to do this, I always think of this quote from The Little Prince: “Grown-ups love figures. When you tell them that you have …

Friends, This week I have spent a great deal of time with our Board of Trustees. On Sunday, I facilitated the annual Board Retreat, and for most of this week, six Board members and I have participated in the Understanding and Analyzing Systemic Racism workshop that the Crossroads faculty and staff experienced in August. This commitment of time and energy …

Friends, The most frequent question people ask me at this time of year is, “How is school going?” or “How was the start of school?” I’ve been thinking that I could answer this question much better. Usually, I begin with naming things we have done so far (middle school campout, advisory retreats, first day of class, first day of activity, …

Friends Please review this Wednesday Notice thoroughly! Now is the time to sign up for Plus Portals, to order lunch, and to complete emergency forms and permission forms for middle school camp. Now is the time to check in with your child: How is the summer reading going? Do you have your books? Preparing for school is a time of …

Friends, I haven’t written anything this summer to include in the Wednesday Notice, but last week I had a meeting with alumni parent, donor, and friend to Crossroads Steve Littlejohn. Steve and I talked about many interesting things, and I want to share a few of them with you today. They inspire my excitement for Crossroads and for the beginning …

Friends, I began writing this letter on Wednesday and then woke up yesterday and today to the painful news of more shooting deaths in our country. My heart is heavy and I feel impossibly small as I think about the lives, friends, families, and loved ones of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Philando Castile in Minneapolis, and the police officers …