Big Smiles and Miles of Gratitude
Last Saturday’s Upper School graduation brought big smiles and miles of gratitude for the significant accomplishments of all our School students.
During the week prior to receiving their diplomas, all Upper School seniors gave presentations sharing outcomes from the past three weeks of independent study and exploration.
Underclassmen worked collaboratively during the final school days to prepare presentations building on the richness of class trips that took place the week before. Freshmen studied history and art in New Mexico, sophomores went to the Dominican Republic and built three houses for families in need, and juniors studied the history of the Christian Science movement in New England.
In addition to these culminating May trips, we are looking forward to introducing Upper School class trips focused on character education this fall. Seniors will hold a class retreat at Leelanau Outdoor Center in Michigan. Underclassmen will participate in one-week Outward Bound trips to Maine, Idaho, or Washington where they will sail, raft, canoe, or rock climb.
The ultimate purpose for all of our trip programs is to follow Mary Baker Eddy’s outline for the purpose of true education: “to make one not only know the truth but live it” (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 252). We are finding that experiential trips provide an excellent opportunity to enhance leadership and communication skills, establish teamwork and class unity, and develop a culture of joyfully overcoming obstacles.
The character qualities that are nurtured and honed on these trips are also important for academic success. Our educational design includes transferring these qualities back to the classroom and incorporating them into every experience throughout the entire school year.
At the College, we enjoyed having the rugby team linger on campus for a bit following commencement. They were practicing hard in preparation for the Division II National Rugby Tournament in Denver at the end of last month.
I was able to attend the competition at the University of Denver, where the stands were filled with family, alumni, and local friends of Principia. Several other spectators looked at our crowd and asked, “Now, where is Principia?” before declaring, “Wow! You people travel well.” It was indeed an impressive turnout of support with alumni of all ages, babies in strollers, and lots of loud cheering from a group of 100 Principia fans.
As one of 12 teams who qualified, the Thunder Chickens were returning to nationals for the second straight year, after earning the National Championship last year. During the two-day competition, Principia had impressive wins against Providence College and Vassar College and ended up in 10th place overall. The team represented us well.
“It's a privilege to be here playing rugby at our highest level and representing Principia College in this manner,” said Coach Ward Patterson (C’82) during the weekend’s events.
We also have thirteen students staying on the College campus this summer to work on a variety of faculty research projects in the sciences, social sciences, and theatre arts. We’re excited about the opportunities this provides our students to hone their research skills and be mentored by faculty.
Back on the School campus, optional June sports camps are taking place, keeping the fields and gyms buzzing with activity. Our Summertime Discovery program is offering seven fun-filled weeks of activities during June and August for any Christian Science Sunday School students who are 4–11 years old.
In the fall, we are looking forward to expanding the Acorn program for infants and toddlers. Dorothy Halverson will shift from her post as assistant principal of Early Childhood and Lower School to lead an effort to support Christian Science parents of young children from coast to coast. We look forward to sharing more details about upcoming events and opportunities soon.
Throughout this academic year, I’ve witnessed many opportunities for Principia community members to demonstrate this year’s metaphysical theme: “ . . . love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:39).
It’s been another year filled with challenges, successes, and progress, and I fully expect that growth to continue for each of us individually and as an institution. We’ll be working hard this summer to prepare for the 2015–2016 academic year and beyond. As Principia founder Mary Kimball Morgan’s counsel suggests regarding vacation periods, “Both play and work should tend toward the same end—the fuller development of the individual.” I wish you all a refreshing, inspiring summer of educational adventures and “change of activity” (Education at The Principia, p. 52).