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News from the Interim Headmaster
Geoffrey C. Butler
Interim Headmaster
During my first weeks at Holland Hall, I have asked students, faculty, trustees and others about the most distinguishing characteristics of the Holland Hall education. I wrote in my first Connect article about the importance of developing the ability to think. Another attribute that keeps coming up is the emphasis on innovation and creativity. There is a long history of academic innovation at Holland Hall. Furthermore, this mind-set promotes the encouragement of creativity within the students.
As one who thinks of himself as not being particularly creative, I muse over what creativity looks like. How do we recognize it and how do we engender it in our students? Is it something that resides primarily in the arts, or is it found throughout the Holland Hall educational experience?
There are many misconceptions about creativity, one of which is that it implies a lack of discipline. An article published by the Royal Bank of Canada many years ago observed, “The opportunity to be creative has been interpreted by some as an opportunity to look and behave like an artist without going to the trouble of actually being one.” At its worst, creativity means letting a child do what he/she wants without establishing a framework of discipline. At its best, it means challenging each child to reach for originality and to take intellectual risks. But in order for creativity to prosper, it must have discipline. That same article quoted Sir Joshua Reynolds, 18th century English artist, “If you have great talents, industry will improve them; if you have but moderate abilities, industry will supply their deficiency.”
While I am not sure that creativity can be taught, I am certain that it can be exposed, nurtured, guided and realized. First, we must recognize that creativity is found in many forms. Of course, we can see immediate examples throughout the Walter Arts Center. But creativity is also found in original mathematical or scientific problem solving, in literary analysis, historical interpretation, and all of the academic programs. And yes, it can also be found on the athletic fields and courts.
We all know that the world is constantly changing with increasing speed. What will the world be like 13 years from now when our kindergarten children graduate? What capacities will they need to be productive and to thrive in that world? We really don’t know what information will be most important or even what sets of skill. I do know, however, that the ability to take in new information and to use it creatively will be essential. Knowing how to use knowledge in imaginative and innovative ways will empower our students to be leaders and not victims of a changing world.
Our responsibility is to encourage children to take risks without fear of embarrassment, while at the same time helping them to assemble the proficiency and the knowledge needed to make significant use of their imaginations. It has been said that “to act creatively, you must first give yourself permission to try.” Holland Hall is an environment where we not only give that permission, but we exhort our children to discover their creative power every day.
Are Those Eyelids Drooping In The Afternoon?
Jo-An Vargo
Head of Primary School
We’ve just begun the school year, and readjusting our body clocks and family schedules to a rhythm different than the relaxing days of summer can be difficult. Therefore, this month’s article about the importance of sleep for good health and learning will be longer than usual; I want to give this important topic proper attention.
The National Sleep Foundation, http://www.sleepfoundation.org, — a great resource by the way — gives us an approximate amount of sleep for various ages. Take a look: MORE>>
Educating Towards Moral Responsibility
Joel Bicknell
Head of Middle School
Over the last several weeks, I’ve engaged in many conversations with students, parents, faculty, visitors to campus, and fellow administrators regarding what differentiates the Holland Hall experience from experiences at other schools. For those who have been associated with the school for several years, we can agree that the relationships formed between people who have consistent values, constitute the social norms of our school. Certainly, the priorities we place in providing an education that develops our students’ discipline of thinking make Holland Hall a special community.
I’ve discussed in previous Campus Connect articles how important the Essential Qualities of a Holland Hall Student are in crafting the Middle School experience. In the next couple of months, I will highlight an individual quality and the practices in place or in development that make these expectations operational in our school. MORE>>
Thursday Morning, A Snapshot of Life in the Upper School
Dennis L. Calkins
Head of the Upper School
It is Thursday morning, September 2 in the Upper School, an F-Day marking the end of the second cycle of the school year. Our morning meeting in the commons has just adjourned. Some students are making their way to their first class of the day while others are deciding how to spend their first few mods of unscheduled time. Shortly after 8:30 a.m., I happen to be wandering through the school trying to locate two of my colleagues. My wandering leads me through the hallways and various study areas, into the library and study station, past the computer lab into the SMT commons and back to my office. I see students in all parts of the building so I decide to begin counting them and taking note of their activities. Here is what I discover:
MORE>>
Parents’ Association September Meeting
Everyone is welcome to attend the Parents' Association meeting on September 13 at 2 p.m. in the Alumni Center, Middle School. These monthly meetings are a great opportunity to find out more about what is going on at the school and get involved. For more information, contact Erin Yancy at eyancy@hollandhall.org.
Holland Hall's Annual All School Picnic
Punt, pass and party with Holland Hall families at the All School Picnic on Friday, September 24, 5 - 7 p.m., west of the stadium. Enjoy free food, fun, games and music. Don't miss the pre-game performance from the Primary School and watch the Dutch take on Kinkaid, kickoff at 7 p.m.
In case of inclement weather, the All School Picnic will be held in the Middle School Gym. For more information, contact Erin Yancy at (918) 481-1111, Ext. 738.
Alumni Homecoming Weekend
The Alumni Association invites you to catch up with old friends and walk down memory lane during Holland Hall's Alumni Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 8-9. Don't miss the Alumni Awards Ceremony where we will honor alumni with the Distinguished Graduate Award, the Young Alumni Achievement Award and the Tim S. O'Halloran Faculty Award. Following the ceremony will be the Alumni Cookout prior to the football game.
For a complete schedule of events, CLICK HERE. For more information, contact Judy Warren, Director of Alumni Relations at 879-4745 or jwarren@hollandhall.org.
Save the Dates! Holland Hall's 2010 ARTworks Artist-in-Residency Program Features Santa Fe Artist Helene Pfeffer
Gallery Talk and Opening
Sunday, October 24, 2010
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
$50, Reservations Required
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Exhibition and Sale
October 25 - November 29
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ARTworks Residency
October 25 - 29
All events are held in the Walter Arts Center on the Holland Hall campus, 5666 E. 81st St.Patron levels available. For more information, contact Erin Yancy at 481-1111, Ext. 738 or CLICK HERE.
Back to the Future!
Our Auctions at Holland Hall are more than just fundraisers, they tell a story. The 2010-2011 Auction, Back to the Future, will be a celebration of our future, while honoring our past.
In exploring our past, we discovered in the archives, great photos of different locations, buildings, faculty and students that we will be sharing with you in Campus Connects throughout the year. We also discovered the various mottos and symbols that represented the school, one we loved so much that we incorporated it into this year’s logo — it’s the timeless “Honor, Loyalty, Courtesy” portion of our logo. Those attributes continue to be important to our families, teachers and students. Some things never go out of style.
Our future … well, the kids of course. They are the future of everything. That’s why as parents we chose Holland Hall. To give our future the best start in life.
So fittingly our 2011 Live Auction, Back to the Future, will be held in the wonderfully updated Primary School, April 16, 2011. Mark your calendars and prepare for the time travel trip of your life as we take you Back to the Future!
Please visit the Auction site for more information: CLICK HERE.
Win a 2010 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4x4!
Raffle tickets for the 2010 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4x4 will go on sale starting Friday, September 10, 2010. Tickets are $100 each. Raffle rules and more information will be posted on the Holland Hall website.