Ben's eUpdate - Fall 2011

What a way to begin the new school year!  Neither an earthquake nor a hurricane could dampen the spirits of our students and faculty eager to return to Jemicy after the long summer break.  I hope that any storm related hardships suffered by our community were temporary.  Fortunately, both of our campuses were unscathed, but for the power outage that caused us to delay the first day of school on the Lower and Middle School Campus.  Thanks to those affected for your patience and understanding.

This year, I am committed to ensuring that Jemicy is a “School of the 21st Century” by examining how we teach, the role of technology, our adaptability, and the benefits of both the physical and virtual classroom.  What is information and what is knowledge?  Which are basic core skills that will continue to require instruction?  How can we challenge our students to critically analyze and apply data they can now so easily access on the Internet?  How do we keep pace with the way today’s students learn in order prepare them for the future and new types of jobs that have yet to exist?  The conversation and brainstorming with the faculty has already begun, and although Jemicy is already well ahead of other schools, we recognize that to be a 21st century school requires constant review and evaluation.

CAMPUS ENHANCEMENTS

Both campuses were bustling with activity during the summer months.  While Camp Jemicy was in full swing on the Lower and Middle School Campus, improvements were being made to the building and grounds.  The lobby and administrative hallway got new lighting, paint, and refurbished bathrooms, and new furniture is on its way.  The exterior was also painted and lighting was installed to illuminate the sidewalk above the athletic field.  To accommodate the growing enrollment on the Upper School Campus, a creative reconfiguration allowed for additional classrooms, a music room, weight room, and new offices.  In addition, construction will begin this fall on a natural grass athletic field on the adjoining Garrison Forest Road property.

NEW FACULTY

New faculty and staff have joined the Jemicy community, and these individuals bring a wealth of knowledge and creative ideas to share with their students and colleagues alike.  Please take a moment to look at their profiles - New Faculty and Staff Profiles

WEBSITE UPDATE

If you haven’t yet noticed, our website has been tweaked to make navigation easier.  It is designed to be a dynamic site, where new highlights, articles, information, and resources are regularly added. 

CHINA TRIP

I am very excited about the wonderful, educational trip to China we are planning for interested upper school students in March 2012, during spring break.  This spectacular, perhaps once in a lifetime, journey will expand our students’ learning through active, multisensory, hands-on experiences.  They will be exposed to Chinese culture, history, and the daily life of Chinese people.   It is my goal to offer an international trip to interested students in Upper School every other year.

LAPTOP PROGRAM

Our technology offerings continue to expand, and we have now extended our laptop program to include Middle School Y Group students, who have all been issued Mac laptops.  They, along with Upper School students, who were provided laptops last year, are allowed to take them home daily, where they can access their school work files and assignments through internet based applications Moodle and Barracuda.

ADDITIONAL LOWER AND MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELING

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Erin Berman will be supporting the Lower and Middle School Dean of Students in the areas of social and emotional wellness.  This fall, she will be working with JE students to enhance their social skills and build self-esteem.  Erin is currently a graduate student in the Loyola University Maryland School Counseling Program. 

FALL UNIT – OUR NATIONAL PARKS

A Jemicy tradition, the 2011 common cross-curriculum unit of study kicked off on September 9th.  This year the Lower and Middle School will focus on our National Parks.  An overnight campout is planned for the culminating activity on Festival Day.

THE FUTURE

Congratulations to Michael Meisel for becoming the new chairman of Jemicy’s Board of Trustees.  He and fellow Board members have been busy gathering information from administrators and faculty in order to devise a roadmap for Jemicy.  Mark your calendars for a presentation on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. on the Upper School Campus, to see and learn about the vision for the future.

An abundance of experiential learning opportunities are planned for the months ahead.  The students are enthusiastic, happy, and engaged – I am confident this will be a great year! 

As always, I want to thank you for entrusting us with the education of your child and allowing us to provide each student with the tools to build a successful future.

Best regards,