November 17, 2022
Where PomPoms Meet Professional Development
I certainly didn’t expect organizers waving pompoms enthusiastically in welcome or debating the merits of jellybeans versus chocolate with a complete stranger (shout out to Houston Kraft for this icebreaker) when Kevin Rokuskie first described the Association of Middle Level Educators Conference (AMLE). As it turns out, there may have been nothing that could have […]
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November 14, 2022
Speaking Truth
At 30, Josh Rowsey, ’09, is finally discovering his authentic voice—and empowering other young people to find theirs through the power and language of hip-hop. An artist, businessman, educator, mentor, and cultural ambassador, Rowsey defies singular characterization. “I’ve been blowing up boxes since my days at Cary Academy. I don’t live in a world of […]
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November 10, 2022
Meet the New Faces of CA
This fall, CA welcomed many new faces to campus! New faculty and staff have joined us in nearly every corner of campus, and we are so pleased to introduce them to you. Below you will find some fun facts about each unique individual, and we hope you get the chance to say hello if you […]
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October 27, 2022
Letting Our Children Be Who They Are Meant To Be
The other day I was watching a clip* from a neuropsychologist Dr. Russell A. Barkley who was addressing a group of educators in a series called “Essential Ideas for Parents.” He began with “The problem with parents these days…” and he almost lost me. Heavy sigh. Eye roll. I usually have no tolerance for whatever negativity comes […]
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October 20, 2022
Technology and Neurodiversity
Each year the technology services department is asked to provide training for new employees, new students, and those returning community members who may need a bit of a refresher after the summer break. While this isn’t the only professional development or training the department offers, it tends to be similar each time. How do I […]
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October 13, 2022
There’s a Crackle in the Air
What does one do in the lobby? Sixteen 6th graders and I found ourselves pondering this question recently. We were about to embark upon a tour of “The Playground”—the theater facility within Berger Hall—as part of a five-class rotation of the Arts Minors program. Seated on the lobby floor, my new friends rattled off responses: […]
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September 29, 2022
Gravel Road Lessons: The Serendipity of an X Day
I swear I’m not making this up. Just ask Max, or Coach Hall, or any of the students who were on the bike trip—they can corroborate the details. Here’s a bit of the backstory. Several weeks ago, Max had asked me if I was willing to help with an X Day centered around biking—specifically, gravel […]
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September 22, 2022
Breaking the People Pleasing Cycle
What do we do when our children don’t get what they want? When they’re little, we coach them on the value of sharing, waiting their turn, or accepting the situation. If you are a parent of siblings, you’ve probably set multiple invisible timers to negotiate toy time between equally indignant children. You’ve heard ‘it’s-my-time-with-the-Xbox!’ and ‘I WAS […]
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September 1, 2022
Pride and Promise
Pride and Promise I love August! There is a wonderful spirit of pride and promise that fills the air as we welcome students back to campus for a new school year–and as we enter into a new year of our school’s five-year strategic plan. Before we launch fully into a new year of strategic goal […]
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