EDUCATION
W
hen Dorothy and Toto arrive in Oz, everything is suddenly in brilliant color. That’s the way it is when students arrive in adolescence. Suddenly
everything is imbued with an emotional intensity that was not present before. They become happier than they have ever been, and they become sadder than they have ever been. And they want to run down the yellow brick road to adventures beyond imagining. It’s all a bit worrisome for parents. The child they
thought they knew is becoming a different person, a more moody person, a person who likes to take risks. Children entering adolescence need a safe place to spread their wings and attempt to fly. Cindy McEnroe is Glinda the Good Witch in the Ozian
world of Middle School. She welcomes children into her counseling office, makes them a cup of tea, offers them a sweet. She asks them how their day is going, knowing full well that the answer will be centered on how it is going with their friends. “The fundamental imperative for students in Middle
School is to belong, to be accepted, to be part of something bigger than themselves,” Cindy says. “They need to do that as much as a toddler needs to walk and talk.” She and the other Middle School teachers and staff are
seeking balance in the limbo state between childhood and adulthood. They must still do the nurturing that is so important in the Lower School and also provide the academic skills and knowledge that are the critical elements in Upper School. “We hold them very gently within that space but give
from those experiences. We try to let them make mistakes without making the kind of mistakes that have long-term implications.” The key feature of the OES Middle School is that the
teachers love working with young adolescents. The kids can be exasperating, but they can also be very fun. When Eighth Grade English teacher Ann Sulzer (above, right) talks about
“ The fundamental imperative for students in Middle School is to belong, to be accepted, to be part of something bigger than themselves.”
— Cindy McEnroe
them enough space to grow,” she said. “We create a space where they can take risks, make mistakes, maybe have their feelings hurt or hurt others’ feelings, then learn
the students, she can’t help laughing about their hamster- like antics. She marvels that when a consultant came to the Middle School to talk with students about what is important to them about the campus, they became fixated on the space surrounding the chocolate milk machine in the dining hall. “They were really concerned about the fact that on
chocolate-milk Fridays it gets really congested around the chocolate milk machine,” she said. “It was all about the chocolate milk. It’s hilarious the things they notice.” She also finds the students’ openness and emotional
honesty endearing. On the Eighth Grade relationship retreat last year, they spoke about their own anxieties around relationships and their concerns about society and the way people treat each other. “The level of sincerity and respect they gave each other
was astounding,” she said. “There were plenty of times when they were silly goofy kids rolling on the floor laughing, but there are moments that remind you what a special group of kids they are and what an amazing school it is that creates such a safe space.”
WWW.OES.EDU WINTER 2013 OES MAGAZINE 11 11
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36