Civil Rights Day at SRS
Since its inception, Shaker Road School has fostered a community that supports learning, acceptance, and tolerance. Shaker Road School’s first motto as a child care center—“Loving, Learning, Caring”—continues to guide the work we do with all families. Our...
Never be afraid to try something new
This winter, a small group of intrepid middle school students joined Shaker’s revamped competitive Nordic ski team. Many of these students had never cross-country skied before, and most had never raced. For those unfamiliar with the sport, it isn’t easy....
Teaching Timeliness…and the Benefits of Arriving to School Early
I will admit it; one of my biggest pet peeves is arriving late to a meeting, appointment, or event. It is challenging, especially on these dark mornings, to get out the door to be on time for school, but I try to live by the mantra that...
Independence and Collaboration
For the month of April, my advisory was tasked with writing an article about Independence and Collaboration. My advisees decided to independently write about the different assignments and activities of their Eighth-Grade year and how they used independence...
Courage and Self-Advocacy: Take the Plunge, the Thrill is Worth it
It's September, 2014. Student Government elections are just around the corner. Izzy Wang faces a tough decision. Does she take a leap and run for fifth grade representative, or play it safe and wait another year to run. She's excited about the idea of...
Kindness and Empathy
Over several years of discussing November’s citizenship theme, “kindness and empathy,” with my seventh and eighth grade students, I have come to understand a thing: kids who grow up knowing, experiencing, and practicing kindness and empathy can sometimes have trouble...
Embrace the Deep Freeze!
Returning to school after the December holiday break is never easy. Re-adjusting to waking up before 8:00 AM, packing lunch boxes, combing hair, and finding missing sneakers can challenge our mental capacity following our relaxing, unscheduled “routines”...
Science Fair…Engineering solutions for real world problems
It's time to start thinking about Science Fair at Shaker Road School. Our science fairs do not resemble the sea of trifold boards, stoically tended by students, that you may recall from your childhood. Inquiry is the focus for our students, as they question,...
Citizenship Themes through the Eyes of the Fifth Grade
Shaker Road School's Advisory Citizenship Program is at the heart of our social curriculum. During the past decade, we have tweaked, evaluated, and discussed the importance of such a program and its impact on students during their time at SRS and beyond. Over the...
Goodbye, Old Friend
As I look out my office window, there is suddenly more sunlight streaming through the panes than ever before. In just a few short months, the landscape has changed markedly and is forever transformed. The change was not one that anyone on campus anticipated or wanted,...
