A Message from
Head of School Katherine L. Bradley
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n the last Dana Bulletin, I referred to the importance of academic vigor, that is, of intellectual growth and strength, over academic rigor, which is static and unyielding. This vigor flourishes throughout the classrooms of Dana Hall. We are raising girls to thrive in a world where information is ever present, and this provides an exciting opportunity to rethink what education means. As Social Studies Department Head Brian Cook says, “I hope that the girls begin to see their role as a student as not consuming knowledge, but as constructing understanding. Similarly, my role as a teacher is not to simply deliver information only, but to create a culture where thinking is expected and valued – where curriculum is more than simply what do we learn, but how we learn it, and who is doing the learning.” We focus on constructing understanding, and not just reproducing what is in the textbook, in all disciplines. In Pre-calculus students work in groups to find their own real world examples of sinusoidal behavior, such as temperature fluctuations throughout the year, the motion of a playground swing, or the distance from the moon to the earth. Students in 8th grade Social Studies, after spending three months exploring their own identities and then the Holocaust, consider memorials and monuments, answering together questions like, “What history is worth remembering? How is it remembered? What does it teach us about society? Is it successful?” They are thinking about history and what it means, rather than memorizing facts. AP Biology students study the temperature dependence of enzymatic activity not by carrying out a set procedure from the AP lab manual, but rather by investigating how temperature impacts the volume of bread as it rises. The seeming simplicity of the question lets the students focus on the details of the experimental design process, and gives them a sense of ownership that would not be possible with a pre-prescribed lab. We send the Class of 2017 on their way to new experiences and adventures, knowing they are prepared with the skills necessary for their next academic steps and for life as productive adults. The girls of 2017 will always be an integral part of my personal Dana Hall story, since they walked along side me through my first year. I know they will add much to the community of Dana Hall alumnae, a group that already is filled with wise, formidable and determined individuals. I look forward to seeing how these powerful young women will shape the world. F Amelia Thames ’24, Ava Sweeney ’22, Head of School Katherine L. Bradley, Eliza Cole ’24, Lele Gibbs ’24
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Summer 2017