RDS Graduates

October 28, 2009

On Monday evening this week, we had our annual High School Panel, where graduates from last year return to RDS to talk with current 8th graders, parents, and guardians about their experiences in high school. This year we had thirteen alums come back, representing twelve different high schools.  Assistant Head of School Warren Sepkowitz moderated the panel and kept things moving, asking a wide range of his own questions, as well as soliciting queries from the audience. What the RDS graduates had to say about homework, social life, arts, athletics, admission interviews, and school culture was of high value to our current students.
 
The bottom line is that all the graduates have made a successful adjustment into high school and just a few months into their high school careers seem to be thriving.  There was, however, a deeper dynamic that emerged over the course of the evening. Graduates were back in part to help out, and in larger part to reconnect with one another. You could see it in the pizza dinner beforehand, and it extended all the way through the panel discussion. At dinner there were lots of loud squeals of delight, affectionate hugs, and sincere "How are you doing?" Heck, they were even excited to see a couple of old folks like Warren and me. The connections that existed between the kids were palpable and contagious.
 
Over the course of the panel, the students good-naturedly teased one another and tried as subtly as possible to outdo one another, all with tongue in cheek. Their level of banter and humor was impressive and noteworthy. In addition, they listened to one another, deeply, and in their listening supported each other as they demonstrated their public speaking skills in front of a friendly RDS audience.
 
Walking away, I flashed back to a recent conversation I had with a colleague who is the head of school at an independent school in San Francisco. He had just come back from a former student's wedding and commented that just over 25% of the graduating class had been in attendance.  Flashing forward I could easily imagine high percentages of RDS graduates attending classmates' weddings.
 
Without a doubt, the habits of mind and intellect that students get with an RDS education are of high caliber. And on Monday night, the habits of friendship and care were just as evident.
 
Have an engaging conference and a relaxing weekend.
 
Mike