Jon Leef, Interim Upper School Principal
I am not one to look back. I prefer to look forward. I believe that I work in the most hopeful calling that there is. I believe, however, that it is harder to be an adolescent these days. There are a number of reasons, and the list is too long for this letter. You have heard from me before on topics related to this issue, and I promise to share more as our years together progress.
Last week was a difficult one for our nation, and on Monday I asked our Upper School deans and our director of diversity and inclusion to join me in helping our students process the events during their grade meetings. I had the opportunity to work with Jenny Heath and Dion Reid, our two 11th grade deans. When we spoke to the juniors, I acknowledged that their generation was one that seemed to be constantly barraged by news of mass shootings, sometimes involving schools or places of worship. With the 24-hour coverage and social media, these events are constantly in the front of our minds. How unsettling! But what word should I use for the seemingly never-ending parade of pundits on all news channels who offer political spin on these events? I mentioned to the juniors that I wished they had more honorable, nurturing, and sensitive public role models in this regard. Ultimately, I asked the students to remember the victims and their families. In one moment, those affected were actively engaged in their communities; in the next moment, survivors were trying to put pieces of their lives back together.
On Tuesday, several students led a brief, well-attended gathering and moment of silence for the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. During the assembly, they also mentioned the Kentucky shooting where the perpetrator initially tried to gain access to an active church. When I met with the students to plan the gathering, I was struck that they knew most of the questions to address. Impressive? Yes. But also unsettling, as it was obvious that they have too much experience with this story. They spoke of the Parkland School shooting. Forget the elephant in the room, they knew all the details. Ultimately, you would have been proud of the way our students handled things. I was.
In my August letter to you, I mentioned the myriad support structures here at RCDS. This week, we took the opportunity to remind the students of a few of these structures, and I'd like to take the opportunity to remind you. Besides your child's advisor, grade dean, and teachers, we have two terrific professionals who are charged with helping our Upper School students navigate emotionally difficult waters. Jacquie Butera, LMSW; our dean of student life, and Tim Silverman, Upper School counselor, make terrific connections with our students in their work within the Life Skills program, but they are also clinical social workers available to any member of the Upper School for short-term counseling, family consultation, or crisis intervention.
We are also fortunate to have two learning specialists - Leif Halverson and Eileen Juico - on our Upper School faculty. They work with students who have been identified as needing additional support beyond what is provided in the classroom. They also serve as resources to our teachers and administrators, often observing classes. Finally, both Mr. Halverson and Ms. Juico host "drop-in" days when any student may ask for advice in carrying out his/her academic responsibilities.
Our counselors and learning specialists are supervised by Director of Support Services Debra Pager. Dr. Pager has been at RCDS since 2002 and is a terrific resource for parents, administrators, and teachers. If ever you have a question about personal counseling or learning support, feel free to reach out to Debra.
As we wrap up the first quarter of the year, grades and comments are right around the corner. We have also started our second semester course selection process. These are important topics for dinner table conversation. Don't forget, however, to let other topics take priority on occasion. Be the great role model for your child. Be the great listener. And be hopeful.