For a moment, imagine the following and ask yourself, "What is he describing?":

• the gym, packed full of students and friends, all mesmerized and held in rapt silence while middle school students recite a seemingly random list of numbers
• art projects of strange symbols -- possibly of alien origin? -- lining the walls with similarly designed sculptures sitting on table tops 
• the aroma of  freshly baked pies filling the gymnasium
• the palpable anticipation of perpetually hungry middle-schoolers salivating at the thought of eating these same pies...
• four eighth-grade boys voluntarily not playing to their strengths-rapping/singing to the entire student body, faculty, and staff
• a homemade video of middle school faculty and staff rapping an original song  

To the outside world, this event may seem unintelligible, but the RDS insider instantly recognizes it as our annual Pi Day Assembly, now in its sixth year as an RDS calendar fixture. On this day, we celebrate the mathematical concept pi in as differentiated way as possible: memory, math, art, culinary skills, and yes, even rapping.   

The spirit of RDS is on display for all to see on Pi Day. Students push themselves and take risks in the three competitions:

• memorization of pi to the most digits
• best artistic rendition of pi, and
• best pie (faculty and staff are judges, so this assembly is always well-marked on our calendars!) 

Talk about engaged, prepared, inspired in action! These various contests are great vehicles to highlight the different kinds of strengths that weave through our diverse student body, as well as students' willingness to risk exploring their more challenging areas of expertise.

In addition to the contests, there is an entertaining educational component that teaches all students more about pi through a creative. This year, different-sized bicycle wheels, string, and scissors were all pressed into service to explain the concept. By the end, students could predict results and understand the relationship between a circle's diameter and its circumference-in other words, pi.

Throughout the entire assembly, faculty and staff stretch their own comfort zones to help engage students more fully in the learning experience. Whether dressing in wizard costumes as assembly moderators, participating in a rap video extolling the beauty of pi, or actively encouraging student participation in the contests, they inspire their students to take leaps of growth, all in the context of playfulness and fun.

Make sure to ask your children about this week's assembly: what did they learn? What did they do?  For Middle School parents and guardians, some may be surprised to learn of your child's participation.For Lower School parents and guardians, this is the time to plant the seeds for future participation in RDS's own version of Pi Day.

Have a great weekend.

Mike