A PRIL-MAY 2014
The Park Parent in this issue: PARK21 INNOVATION & CHANGE // 4 DR. “O” ON MANAGING STRESS // 6 SPRINGFEST // 7 WHO AND WHAT IS PARK’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES // 8 AROUND THE LIBRARY // 11 THE PARKING SPACE // 13
Park21: Translating Ideas In Action B y mi chael Robinson, Head of School
T
he big idea behind Park21 is simple but profound: the world of education is rapidly changing and Park must too.
Fifteen years into the 21st century, the best minds in education are rethinking “school.” Our world demands students who are competent in traditional academic subjects and “21st century skills” like learning across disciplines; creative problem solving; understanding how to manage, interpret, and use new forms of information/technology; and embracing a global view of the world. In forward-thinking schools, educators are asking where and how do teaching and learning thrive? What do we know about how the brain works and how students learn best? A fifth-grader explains his PSite project to Michael Robinson. In these places, the form of school (time, space, teaching roles) follows the desired function (where teaching and learning thrive). In thinking about the forms that education will take, there is an inexorable movement towards greater integration of disciplines, more sustained instructional time, and changing learning spaces. In these types of schools, you’ll see fewer desks in traditional classrooms and more flexible seating arrangements and shared activity spaces where students can present, collabocontinued on page 3
Got Grit? By ANNE harvey Kilburn , Park Parent Editorial Board
A
s the parent of two Upper Division students, I often wonder how they manage a deep and fast-paced curriculum in addition to the ups and downs of social life, not to mention the pressures of our 24/7 culture. For one kid, the simple act of just showing up
each day might just demonstrate a good amount of grit and personal responsibility. And in
the other’s zest for excellence, could curiosity or gratitude possibly be compromised? vo l u me 46 nu mb e r 5 a pub lication of the park s c h o o l parent s’ assoc iation
These words got me thinking when I first learned of Park’s intention to include a checklist of character strengths called, “Habits for Scholarship and Citizenship” on the Upper Division comment form. Having read Stanford psychology professor Carol Dweck’s work on “mindset,” I understand the concept, but as with most continued on page 2