Dear Parents and Guardians,
Freshman year is a time of many transitions. In January, it feels like the transitions just keep coming. As term two ends and term three begins, semesters and classes change, and the weather cannot seem to make up its mind for more than a couple hours, I find myself reflecting on the past and looking forward to the future. My outgoing Communication and Literacy students were just my guinea pigs for a unit on debate. I have to say, it was one of the most exciting projects I’ve seen! The students were able to research and present both sides of the argument clearly, cohesively, and professionally. They formed and challenged their opinions about major issues in the school and in the world. I was surprised to hear the range and depth of opinions on everything from school uniforms to human rights. First semester Com and Lit students also shared their independent 20 Time projects. Both the work and the reflections were informative and impressive. They learned a lot about the topics they studied, as well as how they learn and how they overcome challenges. As I get to know this new group of Com and Lit students, I am excited to begin our journey of storytelling, public speaking, and learning. I can already tell that this group is primed and ready for a creative and novel semester. Simultaneously, in English 9, students are creating new approaches to old texts, in their Romeo and Juliet Film Proposal projects. It is great to see the teams cut and create scenes from the book. I’m excited to see their takes come to life in both their film and their writing. This past term we have dealt with some of the most challenging texts in the ninth grade curriculum, and the students have brought maturity and insights that make me confident the next semester will continue to be full of growth and complexity. I am rejuvenated by the fresh start a new semester and new faces bring. I am looking forward to seeing the students’ growth over the next few months. Sincerely, Rafi Diamond
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