Crescent Blogs

When was the last time you met someone who changed the direction of your life, your mindset, or your sense of self? Were you ever in the company of a truly special person whose mere presence caused you to be in awe? What impressed you the most about that person? I have been lucky to encounter a few of these people in my life and I remember each first meeting like it was yesterday. One of those moments was the day I met my wife, Heather; it was pure providence. Another was my first class with my favourite high school teacher, Mr. McCann, who posed big questions; it was an immediate connection. A third was the day I encountered Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche, a network of communities for people with intellectual disabilities; it was pure reverence.

I was blown away by my Grade 11 American History class projects this year. The students researched the life and times of different American presidents, and then presented what they discovered to the class. That doesn’t sound very revolutionary, but the project included an interactive class activity and a 21st century learning product, and that’s where the magic happened.

As the Dean of Studies, the myriad of articles and professional development opportunities that come across my desk and arrive daily in my inbox is at times overwhelming. It can be difficult separating the useful and relevant − research, opinion pieces, new ideas and political initiatives − from the rest of the pile. The key is to find that sensible middle ground and then use the School’s mission and ethos to hone into our sweet spot, always through the lens of our Strategic Academic Plan.