By all accounts, it was another excellent year at Ravenscroft, and I am most appreciative of the work of our faculty and staff throughout the year. I also want to thank our parent volunteers who have modeled selfless support and dedication to our School. In addition, I’m very pleased with the growth of our students as they grow to be more resilient young people and tackle the challenges that each day brings.
We ask much of our students, but having high expectations for them is a great gift. Our society will continue to demand leaders who are capable and unafraid to tackle complex challenges, and who do not crumble at the first sign of difficulty. As adults, it is sometimes challenging to allow our children to truly learn this concept, as we are naturally wired to protect and defend. At the same time, it is very rewarding to watch young people set their own high expectations and take personal responsibility for their education and their actions. These are critical steps to servant-leadership!
When I spoke at the Middle School Closing Ceremony, I shared a favorite quote I’d like to share with all of you:
“Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don’t waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail.” -- American Essayist, Og Mandino
I hope you will start each day this summer with a smile and use these relaxing days to nurture yourselves and your families.
Only one more day to go! That’s right -- The 5th Annual Market at Ravenscroft opens tomorrow at 10 a.m. and I do hope you will take the opportunity to support our School and the new WakeMed Children’s Hospital. We are very proud to open our doors to offer some guilt-free shopping … guilt free because every dollar you spend helps our children as well as children in need in Wake County. I cannot think of a better reason to go shopping.
My sincere appreciation goes to the many volunteers who have worked so hard to make this premier experience happen here at Ravenscroft. This event is mission aligned on many levels. In particular, The Market helps us "nourish meaningful and supportive relationships among students, teachers, staff, alumni, parents, and in the greater community."
Whether you plan to bid on Silent Auction items, shop for Mother's Day or graduation gifts, or grab a quick and delicious lunch at the WakeMed Market Café, please help us welcome the thousands of visitors from the Triangle who may be experiencing Ravenscroft's campus and hospitality for the very first time.
We appreciate your support of The Market and our many other fundraising endeavors that help enhance the educational experience for all Ravenscroft students and faculty. I look forward to shopping with you this weekend!
Posted
by progers
on Wednesday March 17 at 09:22AM
A group of more than 20 of us enjoyed discussing the ways we ourselves are, at times, stuck in "fixed" mindsets rather than "growth" mindsets. Also, we shared our concerns about wanting all of our children to have a greater "growth" mindset. The lively conversation was enjoyable and we agreed to consider another book club later this year.
The book I am currently reading is NurtureShock: New Thinking About Childrenby PO Bronson and Ashley Merryman. The table of contents provides some very provocative topics which include: "The Inverse Power of Praise;" "Why Kids Lie;" "The Science of Teen Rebellion;" and "Plays Well With Others – Why modern involved parenting has failed to produce a generation of angels."
I don't believe any one author has the right answer, but I do think that having meaningful conversations around our collective challenges can be very beneficial for our children. I feel that if we want our children to be lifelong learners, we (home and school) must model a "growth" mindset, even through our own mistakes and shortcomings.
What a busy month of October around Ravenscroft. Thank you, parent volunteers! Homecoming, Fall Festival, Faculty & Staff luncheon, Fine Arts concerts, Hispanic Heritage Night ... you name it, and parents were here to support our School! Great job!
October is a time, as Head of School, that I am on the road a bit. Early this month I traveled to Chicago with our Board Chairman, Vic Bell '74. We attended a weekend program entitled Leadership in Partnership, hosted by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). We spent our time hearing excellent speakers, working on our joint communication and considering our priorities for Ravenscroft.
The following weekend I served as a faculty member of the Women in Leadership Seminar sponsored by the National Association of Principals for Girls in Schools (NAPGS). This seminar is designed for aspiring leaders in our field who seek to extend their professional development by spending time with experienced Heads of School. My presentation centered on strategic planning both institutionally and personally. It was gratifying to meet such talented, aspiring leaders. Our own Denise Colpitts and Amy Valerio are graduates of this program.
Finally, as a Board Member of the Southern Association of Independent School (SAIS) Accreditation Committee, I also served as a Chair for the Accreditation Visit for Carolina Day School in Asheville North Carolina. Schools that attain accreditation demonstrate their desire for continuous school improvement through self-evaluation and peer review. It was my pleasure to work with other committee members around the region to certify that CDS is a school in good standing and provide commendations and recommendations to the school for their improvement. In addition, it was very beneficial to me as we look forward to our own re-accreditation process coming up in a couple of years.
The good news is that Ravenscroft is very well respected both regionally and nationally! Thankfully for me, it was nice to get home in time to enjoy some of our special events and programs on campus. One program I’d like to call your attention to is our Parent to Parent "Lessons Learned" program that will be in full swing in November. I attended our first session, facilitated by Kathy Virtue, and I think many more parents would find value in making this workshop a priority. I was humbled to be reminded that "tolerance is teaching" and we need to be courageous as parents as we help our kids negotiate an often toxic culture.
On we go to the second quarter. Thanks again for your continued support!
Posted
by dkelly
on Monday October 26, 2009 at 01:22PM
During the first couple of weeks in Upper School, we offered two book club sessions designated to our summer reading offerings. The success, of course, is predicated on whether or not students have read the book. I think it's a great program and I'm disappointed that more students don't take full advantage of it. That being said, I had a terrific group of students for my two book club sessions and together we had read, Mindset, The New Psychology of Success-How We Can Learn to Fulfill Our Potential by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.
I've been recommending this book to everyone all summer. "World-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck, in decades of research on achievement and success, has discovered ... the power of our mindset. Dweck explains why it's not just our abilities and talent that bring us success -- but whether we approach our goals with a fixed or growth mindset. She makes clear why praising our children's intelligence and ability doesn't foster self-esteem and lead to accomplishment, but may actually jeopardize success ... Dweck reveals what all great parents, teachers, CEOs, and athletes already know, and shows a simple idea about the brain can create a love of learning and a resilience that is the basis of great accomplishment in every area."
If you've already read the book, let me know if you are interested in a book club night to discuss the book!
Welcome to my first ever blog! While, I don't personally have a Facebook page, I have become intrigued by Twitter and the unique challenge of sharing something in under 140 characters. Unfortunately, that doesn't provide enough opportunity for a significant exchange ... so I'm going to share some periodic thoughts about Ravenscroft from my vantage point. I will also share some things from the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and some of my favorite works of literature. I am very fortunate to be the Head of Ravenscroft School and find a wonderful balance of challenge and joy each and every day.
Though our students do not arrive until later this week, we have already begun a variety of meetings and activities for our faculty and staff. There is an incredible amount of work that goes into the opening of a school year. While our teachers are preparing their rooms, reviewing curricular matters and undergoing important training meetings, our maintenance staff is preparing the physical plant, and staff members are serving eager families too. The start of the new school year, even more so than January 1, is our "Happy New Year" as it marks a time of new beginnings and renewal. It is a marvelous journey of mutual trust between families and school for the sake of our children.
I always look forward to the very first meeting for new Lower School Parents. That precious moment when a child tentatively lets go of a parent's hand and runs into the arms of their teacher takes my breath away each year! Then just one day later, I will watch a student who, after 12 years of growing up on Ravenscroft's campus, poses with the senior banner in front of the Murphy Bell Tower for a class photo! This is one of the wonders of a pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 community like Ravenscroft. All of our students - no matter how young or how old - will have butterflies in their stomachs as they embark on a journey into the next chapter of their lives.
Welcome to back to school! Let's make it a great year!
7409 Falls of Neuse Road