A Busy Week at Soundview!
Miss McKenna and her Sea Turtles class, captured here, exuberantly celebrating Soundview’s Spirit Week!
Dear Soundview Families,
Spirit Week was a success! You can see photos below! There’s a lot to celebrate at Soundview this week.
This week, we hosted International Baccalaureate (IB) evaluators for our Middle Years Program (MYP) evaluation. The visit was the culmination of a year-long process that we undertake every five years to maintain the authorization of our IB program. Faculty, staff, board members, students, and parents are all involved. Soundview received commendations for: an enthusiastic culture of student agency and community engagement; prioritizing student well-being; creating positive and dynamic learning environments; innovative and flexible use of indoor and outdoor learning spaces; and transparency and clarity of policies and practices. Our program development plan for the next five years will focus on: ongoing education about the IB with our community; more involvement of student voice in curricular planning; and refinement of our curricular documentation in the areas of conceptual understanding and reflection. Congratulations everybody!
This morning's all-school assembly was led by the kindergarten and seventh-grade classes. They focused on Earth Day and delved into the IB trait of the month, “thinker.” Through an engaging presentation, they illuminated the importance of environmental stewardship and encouraged thoughtful reflection on how each individual can contribute positively to our planet. You can see photos from the assembly by viewing them below.
This afternoon the MYP Students held a Middle School Art & Design Showcase. In their latest interdisciplinary unit on Art and Design, MYP students delved into the realms of fashion and interior/architectural design. They were given the freedom to select a discipline and produce either a 3D model of a space or a wearable garment. Today, they were excited to present their creations to early years and primary year students during the showcase! MYP students lead the event, offering insights into their design journey and showcasing their final products.
Soundview librarian Erin Armstrong begins parental leave next week. Erin will be back in the library in November. Please welcome Jill Schaller as Soundview’s long-term substitute librarian. Jill is currently completing her master's degree in library science and brings valuable expertise that will ensure a smooth transition for our students.
I'd also like to introduce our new assistant and after-care teacher Halle Bracher. She started at Soundview last week. Halle has experience as a preschool teacher, nanny, and tutor. Please help us welcome Halle to Soundview!
Here are the April and early May reminders and opportunities:
Tomorrow evening is the Soundview Spring Benefit Event. Thanks to all of you who are set to attend. See you at 5:30 pm. For those who did not register to attend, you can still help Soundview reach its goal. Make your gift HERE. Your generous contribution helps fund the International Baccalaureate program, the preservation of our forest, need-based financial aid, scholarships, and more. Thank you, as always, for your steadfast support.
Celebrate our incredible teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, happening from May 6th to 10th. Look for more information soon from our Soundview Parents and Guardian Association.
I’m excited to share information with you about Oliver and Tricia’s Community Projects. To learn more and read Oliver and Tricia’s letter click HERE.
And, a note from our own 8th grader Evyn about her community project:
Thank you Soundview Community for all your generous donations to the fight against period poverty! I collected 82 boxes which equaled over 2,000 individual products!
I’m excited to start Phase 2 of my project. Stay tuned for updates.
Thank you!
Evyn
Around the world and in different communities, April is a month of recognition and awareness:
April 22nd is Earth Day. Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by Earthday.org including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. The official theme for 2024 is "Planet vs. Plastics”, you can learn more about this day HERE.
April 22nd to 30th is Passover. Passover, in Judaism, is a holiday commemorating the Hebrews' liberation escape from slavery in Egypt and the “passing over” of the forces of destruction, or the sparing of the firstborn of the Israelites, when the Lord “smote the land of Egypt” on the eve of the Exodus. You can learn more about this HERE.
I’m looking forward to celebrating with our community tomorrow,
Chris
Chris Watson, Soundview Head of School
One more thing…
On April 19th, 1897 the very first Boston Marathon was held. After experiencing the spirit and majesty of the Olympic Marathon, B.A.A. member and inaugural US Olympic Team Manager John Graham was inspired to organize and conduct a marathon in the Boston area. With the assistance of Boston businessman Herbert H. Holton, various routes were considered, before a measured distance of 24.5 miles from Metcalf’s Mill in Ashland to the Irvington Oval in Boston was eventually selected. On April 19, 1897, John J. McDermott of New York, emerged from a 15-member starting field and captured the first B.A.A. Marathon in 2:55:10, and, in the process, forever secured his name in sports history. In 1924, the course was lengthened to 26 miles, 385 yards to conform to the Olympic standard, and the starting line was moved west from Ashland to Hopkinton. You can learn more about this HERE.
