Time Flies

Tempus fugit- time flies. Sometimes the truisms that we come across in life are right on the money. I had been on a steady writing program with my blogs, aiming to keep up the (at least) monthly pace on writing about the things that most interest me. Then late summer hit, and it was hard to get motivated despite the time that I had, theoretically, to write. Some technical glitches occurred at the start of the school year- I find it very difficult to blog using an iPad- and before you know it, it is already mid-autumn and nary a word has been written for my blog.

One of the key things I wanted to share involved the work that I did with a good friend on the building of a fence. I even had the title picked out: "good neighbors make good fences." Calling my part in the proceeding work, is a bit misleading. I handed the nails, planks, screws, and other equipment to my friend Geoff and his son, Zack, and they did all of the work from there.

The Doppenberg family (http://ritadoppenberg.com/) is a unique one. As a family they moved their entire unit- mom, dad, three school-aged boys- to Guatemala for half of a year to interact with needy locals and to assist a group of nuns in the running of a hospital for infants. True to their family values, the work they do there is more practical than missionary, with a heavy emphasis on work. By all accounts they make this work enjoyable, collaborative, and meaningful. The testimony of those who have helped them in this journey says as much. For more information you can check it out for yourself.

My fence got built, and in return I supported their cause in Guatemala, helping them build bridges between those of us who have so much, and those less fortunate who have so little. I had hoped to shed light on their work earlier as they are embarking upon a return to Guatemala this month. They will be supported by many friends and acquaintances who seek to make a difference in the world around them.

I wish them all Godspeed and will miss their friendship and companionship in the coming months. I also know that time does indeed fly, and that it won't be long before they return to tell us all about the rewards and challenges of living and working in an international setting, far removed from the comforts of home.

Change... the Only Constant

It hardly seems like yesterday when I finished a p.d. course at the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) Leadership Institute. It was hosted at a fine Canadian boarding school (Trinity College School) whose origins in 1865 pre-date the birth of Canada as a nation (1867 for the trivia hounds). It was the first week of July and the air was heavy with humidity and the heat of an Ontario summer. Not even the proximity of Lake Ontario- one of the Great Lakes- could provide relief from the sweltering heat. Thank goodness for air conditioning and the pleasant company of colleagues who made the experience not only bearable, but entirely enjoyable.

As July marches on, I find myself again situated at another distinguished Canadian boarding school, this time in Nova Scotia at Canada's first independent boarding school on the beautiful grounds of King's-Edgehill School (founded 1788) in Windsor, Nova Scotia. The summer weather remains hot during the day, but without the stultifying humidity that is found in southern Ontario. I am relieved to be able to gather my thoughts and write in this setting. A cool evening breeze lightens the mood.

These two historical schools may seem odd to have prompted me to write about the topic of change. In reality, they are two schools that have adapted well to changes over time and have continued to provide a high-quality educational experience. That each school started out for boys only (TCS and at least the King's College School part of KES), and now are proudly co-educational is but one example of the many positive changes that have occurred on these fine campuses. However, my point is not to focus on the schools, but rather the concept of change.

A module at the CAIS LI was entitled Change Management. It was a thought-provoking and well-taught module that examined the notion that change is inevitable and that schools had better manage change or else be prepared to be managed by change. We can all think of the many changes that take place in our schools and places of work, from the minor (moving nutrition break ahead or behind 5 minutes) to the major (adopting the International Baccalaureate program). Indeed, change is always occurring in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. The key is to manage, regulate, and otherwise control the change process in order for it to be successful.

While not new, one of the articles studied as part of the reading material focussed on the steps necessary to affect successful change. John Kotter's, "Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail", Harvard Business Review, 1995, provided an eight-step process that he claimed must be followed in order for change to be successful in any organization. He claimed that his research in the field revealed that each of these steps must be followed in sequence in order for change to take hold.

Without going into great detail, and in an effort to summarize, the steps are as follows:

1. Establish a sense of urgency.
2. Form a powerful guiding coalition.
3. Create a vision.
4. Communicate the vision.
5. Empower others to act the vision.
6. Plan for and create short-term wins.
7. Consolidate improvements and produce still more change.
8. Institutionalize new approaches.

No doubt each person can mull over the individual circumstances of the changes that occur in their institutions and determine the veracity of this process, but from my experience there is wisdom to be gained from this article. It also points out that change is the only constant.

School's Out For The Summer

The familiar refrain "school's out for the summer" made famous by the popular anthem by the same title is no doubt forever associated in the west with the roughly two month break that students and teachers take from the regular rhythm of the school year during the summer months of parts of June, July, and August. Yet, what does this welcomed break really signify? Is the time spent idly as the song implies? Do teachers spend every available moment planning new and inventive ways to inspire, organize, and teach their students? I suspect that the answer lies somewhere in between at that elusive point known as balance.

Personally I very much enjoy the change of pace. Normally I have been engaged in some capacity or other related to summer school teaching, coaching, or working at camps. For a teacher this may not seem all that different from the routine of school, but it is- for me, at least. Routines are different, dress more casual, and even the teaching and learning takes on a different hue. In some ways, because of the more relaxed nature of the interactions, the teaching became more personalized and the learning, deeper. As well, summer offers time for reflection and time to take care of individual needs whether they be physical, social, or spiritual in nature. Without sounding too deep, it allows for time to go for a run, eat more intentionally, and spend time in natural settings.

Similarly, summer offers time for professional balance to take place as well. Time permits course work, professional reading, and personal reflection to take place. For me, there is nothing better than the opportunity to pick up a book that has professional and personal impact, and to read it at a leisurely pace. So far this summer it has been The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg. The well-written tract has implications for building positive classroom routines as well as helpful and healthful personal habits. Despite being on holiday I have been rising at 6 a.m. daily and following a routine that has been personally rewarding and quite productive. In essence I have been adhering to the habit loop outlined in the book: cue (gentle awakening alarm), routine (meditation, reading, exercise) and most importantly, reward (healthy food, morning coffee). Next week I embark on a professional development course in which I look forward to deepening my understanding of leadership at independent schools. The challenge will be to keep the routines going as it is a residential program. A gentle ring tone from the cell phone, a shorter morning routine, and a mid-morning coffee break should do the trick. I also look forward to renewing friendships, acquaintances, and international relationships that have developed over the years. Who really believes that "school's out for the summer"?

A Tale of Two Cities

Recently I had the opportunity to visit the cities of Toronto and Montreal- two of Canada's most historic and pre-eminent cities. Denizens of Halifax and Vancouver may take exception to that statement, but the east and west coast sites play a different role in the Canadian dynamic. Less than six hours apart by highway, central Canada's two largest cities are pivotal to the economic, political, and cultural milieu of the nation. They are a study in contrasts though. Toronto is a magnet to the multicultural fibers that run through Canada, attracting new immigrants, and the ambitious from all walks of life. While it is a diverse city, the common thread is the ability to function in English. It is the lingua franca (common language) that connects all people and cultures despite the variety of ethnicities. There are no doubt many of its inhabitants who have a second language capacity, but it cannot be guaranteed to be French, one of Canada's two official languages.

By contrast, arriving in Montreal one is immediately aware of the dual language capacity of this unique city. Over the airwaves, on the advertising signs, and in the everyday chatter, the city expresses its bilingualism in a variety of forms. The French language presence is obvious and the city embodies the francophone with ease. It also accommodates those of us who are primarily English-speaking. Yet, I find that whenever I am in Montreal I feel compelled to try my luck at French. To be sure, I mangle the grammar and test the resolve of even the most patient shopkeeper, but invariably I am indulged and the communication gap is bridged. It is always reassuring to know that even if I can't communicate clearly in French, the average Montrealer will be able to communicate in English. This fact alone compels me to want to develop my own language skills further, and makes me proud to live in a country that at least attempts to be bilingual, if only in name rather than numbers.

C'est la vie.

Gone Fishin'

With a return to school it almost seems as though March break took place ages ago. It hasn't though. This is the first week back to school and the busyness of it all is already gearing up. It feels good to be back in the swing of things, though. Classes are stimulating for the mind -hopefully for the students as well as me. It feels good to be back coaching soccer outdoors. This is the first time in my memory that our school teams have been out on the fields this early in March. Usually our Canadian winter snow lasts well into March and even April or else the rains prevent the fields from being playable. But here we are, the grass is green, the temperatures mild, if variable, and it feels terrific to be running around in shorts.

During the March break it was mostly all shorts. I spent a week's family vacation in South Carolina for the first time. Normally it is Florida or else a 'staycation' locally. Myrtle Beach S.C., was a welcomed destination as a family member recently purchased an ocean-front condo on a stretch of the strand that was beautiful and quiet. It was the perfect spot to recharge, re-connect, and reflect. Each morning I awoke early to greet the sun, taking the opportunity to pray, meditate, and greet our most famous burning star with some gentle yoga- sun salutation, of course.

My 12 year old son took a sudden interest in fishing and that quickly became his primary focus for the holiday. We were able to find a long pier in Garden City, S.C., and it was "fish on" from there. More aptly, "stingray on" and "sandshark on" for they were the only catches (and releases) we had during our time there. It was exhilarating as well, and priceless to be able to share quality time just enjoying the sunshine, warmth, and camaraderie of a shared experience. No tall tales involved, just a few catches and some excellent tips from nearby fishers with a great deal more experience than me and my son.

It may be trite to say, but I think we definitely became hooked. There is something fulfilling about the simplicity of a day spent in nature amongst pleasant company, and time spent doing little more than hoping for a catch on the end of a line.

Meaningful Connections

Perhaps it is something that is shared around the globe with schools that run for three terms, but the one in the middle always seems a squeeze to me. At our school it is at least two, sometimes three weeks shorter than the others. Yet, there is no shortage of activity that is packed into that condensed timeframe. Intermediate and senior division plays, junior and intermediate speaking competitions, sporting championships, debates, ski club each demand time, and of course the classroom load never lightens with interesting and exciting things happening there too. With less than a week to go before an annual March break, there is still much to be done before putting the term safely to bed.

In the midst of all that activity I had the privilege of accompanying a team of Middle Years teachers to an IB-MYP conference in New York City for a four day professional development opportunity. It was a great bonding experience with the team and professionally enriching. There is always a buzz of activity in The Big Apple, and we were stationed in the heart of mid-town, close to Central Park and a host of other famous landmarks.

It is remarkable how much can be learned simply by sharing a meal with colleagues, and New York offers the perfect opportunity for trying new delicacies. In fact, I was going to title this entry: Going beyond the kale; artichokes, mushrooms and other interesting tales. It would take too long to explain the references, suffice it to say that we enjoyed some great meals and laughed heartily in each other's company. We each shared something of ourselves and learned a bit more about each other personally. When you are embarking upon a new journey as we are by introducing a new curriculum (IB-MYP), the benefits of this more meaningful connection cannot be overstated. The only drawback is that not all members of our staff were able to participate. This will happen over time as the program is introduced, but in the short term only a corps of grade seven teachers were able to be involved.

Sharing useful strategies, new practices, interesting approaches to teaching and learning is always a direct benefit of professional development. This conference proved its worth in that regard in many ways. While not every moment yielded new learning, the process of making meaningful connections that can best occur in-person, face-to-face, and in real-time was achieved. If nothing else, watching how other school teams interact, bond, and grow, revealed to me that our school has some terrific colleagues with the potential to really grow collaboratively as we move further along on this journey. As a school with students from over two dozen home countries of residence, I believe that our school is perfectly poised to take advantage of the benefits that accrue with international-mindedness.

The sharing of information at our most recent staff meeting by those who attended the workshops demonstrated that more meaningful connections come with collaboration.

Me To WE Day

Lower School students (at Ridley College) took the opportunity to raise awareness about global hunger through participating in a Me to WE Day. The popular philanthropic organization started by Marc and Craig Kielburger of Toronto, Canada, will be the direct beneficiaries of the fund-raising efforts of Ridley students in grades 4-8 who raised over $230.00 during a day of awareness of global hunger. The day was led by grade 7 and 8 students as part of their extra-curricular program.

The Lower School Me to WE Team, in conjunction with Chartwells Food Services (the in-house school food provider), organized a One Plate Lunch whereby students were encouraged to have only one serving of what was on offer at lunch. Very little encouragement was needed as all students, including primary students, complied with the request. This was all the more impressive given that a delicious Chinese buffet was on offer. Chartwells contributed a portion of the savings in support of Me to WE, and the students enjoyed a casual dress down day for a twoonie ($2.00 coin for those who are non-Canadian).

In all, it was a small step for change and global awareness of a much bigger issue. While a fair amount of teacher-direction was involved at the outset, it was the students who ultimately communicated the initiative to the wider community and organized the day. It is interesting to note that in the long run, gaining a broader understanding of both community and global issues is the way forward towards building an extra-curricular program that has deeper meaning. Judging from the response of the school community, this is a direction that will be well-received.