CampusNews
Mission in Action by marsha little Assistant Head of School Lovett’s mission statement includes these words: “We are committed to improving our school, our city, our society, our environment, and our world.” Over the past two years, we have spent a significant amount of time discussing how, exactly, we prepare and empower students to do this work. We’ve focused on three dimensions of students’ growth, all of which are intricately woven into the fabric of Lovett. First, students must know content and skills. They must be able to think critically, communicate effectively, engage creatively, and collaborate purposefully, and they must have a strong command of the content about which they will think and communicate. Second, students must know themselves. As they develop both curiosity and confidence, they will find and cultivate their best selves. Finally, students must know the world around them, drawing on a foundation of integrity and strong character and actively engaging with and serving others. Here is a glimpse of the various forms this work took in the fall of 2015–16:
Above: Mrs. Eva Edwards Lovett, portrayed by Lynn Elliot, speaks to Mrs. Odom’s kindergartners about the history of Lovett. Right: Lynn Elliot, Neeley Odom Bain ’04, Mrs. Eva Edwards Lovett, Gayle Greenwood, and Abbie Odom McBurnette ’03 at Lovett’s 90th birthday celebration.
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Lovett
Knowing the World (Lower School) We help our youngest Lovett learners know the world around them by first building an understanding of the “world” that is our school. In honor of Lovett’s 90th birthday (2016), Faye Odom and Anna Thomas led their Kindergarten class through a multiweek exploration of Lovett’s history, seeking to answer the question, “How has The Lovett School (especially Kindergarten) changed since it first began 90 years ago?” Students put their listening, questioning, and note-taking skills to work by interviewing Mrs. Eva Edwards Lovett, who was skillfully portrayed by Lovett’s own Lynn Elliott. Armed with Mrs. Lovett’s answers to their questions, they took a field trip to the Physical Plant to imagine what the space looked like when it was Lovett’s preschool. The children also spoke with Abbie McBurnette ’03, Neeley Bain ’04, Alan Elsas ’53, and Fontaine Yearley Draper ’53 about their experiences in Lovett’s preschool and at “Little Lovett.” Back in the classroom, students came to understand the magnitude of a 90-year history. They built a timeline of Lovett’s history, crafted a map of campus, designed original Lovett logos, and planned a birthday party for their parents, fifth grade buddies, Lovett administrators, and Mrs. Lovett herself. Finally, they documented their learnings in a self-published book. Mrs. Lovett would, indeed, be proud!