Cardigan Classes Begin

The first week of classes is complete! After academic orientation and placement tests on Monday and Tuesday, students were ready to meet their teachers by Wednesday. In each class, students and faculty got a chance to review course expectations and take an inventory of all the tools they will need throughout the year. Faculty were careful to begin the year setting students up for success with all the information that they will need to grow and develop into independent learners.

See more photos from the first day of classes

The first week of school is always a bit hectic—making sure students are in the right courses, that they know how to get to their classes, and that they have the right books—but no time has been wasted getting students right into the thick of many learning adventures. Take for instance, Mr. Germain’s science class in which he asked students on the first day to use their powers of observation to look for the unexpected, suspending assumptions and putting aside preconceived notions. In their first day of classes students were asked to hide their eyes while Mr. Germain placed a pen somewhere in the classroom. Was it on the floor? Perched on a window ledge? Clipped to Mr. Germain’s glasses? It was up to the students to search every corner of the room carefully and not let previous hiding places cloud their powers of observation. This will be a theme Mr. Germain will continue to consider as he jumps right into science lessons this week.

See more photos of the sixth grade students in the Living Lab

In sixth grade students have jumped right into lessons as well. Using their senses of sight, sound, and smell to learn more about the animals that are kept on campus in the Living Laboratory, they had a chance observe a snake, turtle, and iguana while at the same time learning how to take care of the animals and treat them with respect. 

Even when classes were done for the day, students have been engaging in learning and thinking. This past week, Ms. Silitch began a community-wide art project in which each student, faculty, and staff member will decorate the back of a domino tile—drawing something that represents their likes, interests, passions, favorite places, dreams, etc. With so little space, students were challenged to figure out creative ways to represent their interests! This project will take several weeks but when everyone in the community has completed a tile, Ms. Silitch will arrange them into a mosaic. We are looking forward to unveiling the final artwork in a few weeks!

It’s so great to have the boys back on campus and to watch them learn so much already. They have the tools they need and have established the expectations and challenges for each course. Now onto more adventures! We look forward to sharing them with you!