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July 16, 2010
Dear Families and Friends,
How goes it? Whatever your it is, I hope it's going well! The summer is more than half over, and I'm looking forward to having everyone back inside our red doors. It's going to be a wonderful school year!
For these remaining summer weeks -- really, for all weeks -- I'd like you to think a bit about comfort zones, yours and those of your children. All of us have a tendency to stay with what's working, to do the things at which we excel; that's only natural. No one likes to be frustrated or fail.
 But growth comes from those times when we go into uncharted areas, when we push ourselves to try something new and to try again after we've failed the first, second, and fifth times. Unless we consciously seek out to do this, to try to learn new skills, to look at situations in different ways, and to put ourselves in situations that are unfamiliar to us, it probably won't happen. By the time we're adults, we generally have found those areas in which we are competent, and we lean toward situations that are familiar and comfortable. (I know that this is true for me!) So we have to seek experiences and opportunities that aren't easy and that may be frustrating if we are to continue to grow and learn.
 Of course, this is true for our children too. They quickly learn what they do well, and they definitely know what's hard for them. Naturally, they veer toward the familiar. As adults, whether parents or educators or relatives or friends, we need to encourage them to take risks and try new things. Then we need to applaud them for their efforts when they succeed and support them for their efforts when they fail -- as we encourage them to try again and again. All the while, I maintain, we should be talking with them about the concept of "comfort zone," and what it means for them.
Indeed, "comfort zone" is a term that kids should know. If they recognize what is happening, why you're prodding them onward, it may make them more receptive to taking risks. As they get older, this awareness and understanding -- it becomes part of their in trapersonal intelligence -- may help them push themselves to grow in lots of different ways.
Here's an idea: How about a family conference in which each person talks about what he or she is doing to step outside of their personal comfort zone?
These photos capture some of our big and little kids outside of their comfort zones. I'd love to hear about your and your family's
outside-the-zone experiences. |
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 This info is at www.newcityschool.org, but in case you've not visited there lately, here are some of the dates that I know, know, know you'll want to engrave on your calendar.
These photos are from our week-long summer photography class.
(It met in the mornings and was coupled with a science class in the
afternoons). Students explored a variety of digital photography concepts
and photographic editing. They went on field trips to the Botanical
Gardens and the Science Center. Oh yeah, they took TONS of pictures too!
Scott taught photography in the mornings and Eric taught
science in the afternoons
Dates You'll Want to Know
The New Parent Dinner is Tuesday, August 24.
School Starts: Monday, August 30. Bring your smile!
Intake Conferences: Thursday and Friday, September 16 & 17
Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences: Thursday and Friday, October 7 & 8
Dinner & Dialogue: Friday, October 15
Teacher Retreat (no school) Thursday and Friday, October 21 & 22
P.O. Fall Festival: Saturday, October 23
Halloween Costume Parade: October 29
Grandfriends' Day: Friday, November 12
Prospective Parent Open House: Saturday, November 13
Thanksgiving Break: Wednesday through Friday, November 24, 25, & 26
P.O. Movie Night: Friday December 10
Winter Break: Weeks of December 20 & 27
P.O. Skate Night: Thursday, January 13
Teacher Record Day (no school): Friday, January 14
Parent-Teacher Conferences: Thursday and Friday, February 3 & 4
Super Bowl: Sunday, February 6
Auction: Saturday, February 26
Pen Pal Breakfast: Friday, March 4
Spring Break: Weeks of March 14 & 28
Stanford Testing Week: April 5-12.
P.O. Movie Night: Friday, April 15
Parent Work Day is Saturday, May 7
Teacher Record Day (no school): Friday, May 13
Portfolio Night: Wednesday, May 18
School Picnic: Tuesday, May 31, 4-7pm
Graduation: Thursday, June 2
Last Day of School: Friday, June 3.
The afternoons were great too because the kids were in a Science Camp. Some of their highlights included making glow in the dark slime, dissecting frogs, and conducting a modified version of the egg drop contest in which students could only use straws and tape to make their container.
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NCS Summer Campers Hit the Road!
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 The Colorado Road Trip Camp is a week long trip where 7th-9th graders get to "road trip it" from New City to Colorado with New City School teachers, Ben and Clair. The students get to choose the adventures along the way and once in Colorado, activities such as hiking, white water rafting, rock climbing are on the agenda.
Our summer campers have also been to the Meramec River, Middle Fork and the Black
River, and will be heading to the Hiawassee River and the Smoky Mountains. (For me, these trips would definitely be outside of the comfort zone!)
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Are you counting the days?
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 I hope the summer has been a time for fun. It is good to give kids (and adults!) a break. That said, reading to children is a worthy activity 365 days each year.
August 30 will be here before you know it, and it will be great to have everyone back and learning. In the next PL I'll share some faculty news, and you'll see some sort of new and some experienced faces there. In the meantime, stay cool.
TOM
Thomas R. Hoerr, Ph.D.
Head of School
trhoerr@newcityschool.org
Quote of the week, from Michelangelo: "The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it."
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