I enjoy listening to kids. They tell you what they think, often without the diplomacy and subtleness that adults use in conversation. You very rarely walk away from a conversation with a student wondering, “what is he/she really trying to tell me?” This week we were reviewing the results of our annual alumni survey that we send to our graduates who are in grade 9 at another school. This quote came back from one of them: “The teachers are there [at this student’s new high school] because it is their job to teach, whereas at KCS the teachers are there for you.” It made me proud.

Derek Logan
Head of School

I knew this day would come.  I was hoping it wouldn’t come so early.  This is about my eighth entry for our school’s blog.  For the past few days, I’ve been speaking to various individuals about what I would write.  I’ve been in and out of classes trying to come across a funny story or two.  Nothing was resonating with me.  For example, I entered a grade 6 class early on Friday morning.  They were just getting ready for recess and their homeform teacher was talking to them about our upcoming Halloween school dance for our grades 6-8 students.  Most of the students were committed to attend.  One of the boys was holding out.  Following the discussion, his comment was, “Alright, I’ll come for the snacks.”  It made me smile.  Hopefully it did the same for you.

Was this story worthy of writing about in my blog?  Did it have a message that people want to hear?  Is it significant enough?  What will people think about me if I write this down?  I guess it’s too late to worry about those questions now.

Derek Logan
Head of School

On the Thanksgiving weekend, our family travelled to South Bend, Indiana so Brandon and I could attend a college football game between the Air Force Academy and Notre Dame. We love the college game day experience. The 300+ member marching bands, the food, the size of the crowd, the player walk, etc. If we lived in the States, my son and I would attend a game every weekend.

My parents, my brother, sister and I used to go to Notre Dame when I was younger. My Uncle Bill worked in the stadium on Saturdays. The last game I attended with my Dad and brother was about 30 years ago. Saw Florida State. Sat in the student section with my brother. Great memories.

Two years ago, my son and I started our own tradition. We went to the University of Michigan for a game against the Irish. This was my son’s first college football experience. We had bought him the tickets for his birthday. 110 000 people in one place; outstanding game even though the Irish lost in the last minute. Last year, we travelled to East Lansing to watch Michigan State vs. ND. This time my wife and daughter attended the game with us. Overtime. Fake field goal to win for State. Crowd went crazy. Another Irish loss. Learned a lesson: it’s better to attend a game only with my son…

Tradition and memories. Our family has them. So does KCS. I’m sure your family does as well.

Derek Logan
Head of School

In my post, Auditions and Tryouts, I discussed my son’s persistence and resiliency with soccer over the past few year.  I mentioned, one of my next posts would be about my daughter, Alyssa and what she taught me this summer.  Last winter she expressed to Heather and I that she wanted to earn some more money.  She’s been babysitting for a couple of years, but the 2 or 3 calls she’d get from families each month, wasn’t enough to meet her Starbucks, downloadable music, clothing needs.  She went out to a number of local businesses, but all said to come back in a couple of years as they weren’t prepared to hire a fourteen year old.

Alyssa and Heather thought about what she could do.  Alyssa is currently working towards earning her grade 8 Royal Conservatory for piano.  She decided to make posters for the neighbourhood, and try to start her own business teaching piano to beginners (5-9 year olds).  She put up her posters, and waited.  A number of weeks passed by.  She would put up new posters to replace the ones that were damaged, but still no calls.  It was about a month after the first poster went up when Alyssa received her first call and her first student.

Our piano is located in our family room just off our kitchen.  During her first lesson, I listened (spied?) in the background as she taught.  There was a lot of giggling and laughing, some good instruction and the occasional note or two on the piano.  My first impression was this is going to work for Alyssa.  She’s great with young kids, loves piano and has the personality to be a good instructor.

A couple of more weeks passed, and Alyssa asked me why she didn’t have more students.  Instant gratification is what she wanted.  Heather and I let her know that it had been our experience that building her teaching business would take time, but if you are good at what you do, word will get out and success will follow.  It did.  She now teaches eight students and this summer, she also ended up with a couple of part time babysitting jobs with her piano students.  She isn’t able to take on any more students at this time because of her schedule, but there are one or two families waiting for an opening.  Resiliency, persistence, and thinking creatively:  habits you want your child to develop.

Derek Logan
Head of School

As mentioned at the end of my last post, my next blog was to be about my daughter Alyssa but something came up in the meantime that I feel I have to share. This week in the staffroom at lunch, I was sitting with one of our soccer coaches.  On Monday, our Boys U12 team played in their annual soccer tournament.  Our coach let me know that at one of the games, a parent from the other team was videotaping the game.  Our boys scored a goal and the parent ran on the field with her video camera to show the referee it wasn’t a goal.  Is twelve year old soccer that important that an adult should behave in such a manner in front of other children and adults?  Disappointing.

Derek Logan
Head of School

Throughout our lives we interview, audition, and tryout for various jobs, plays, and  teams.  Each time we do this, the possibility of not getting what we want is always present.  I’ve watched my own two children (ages 13 and 14) experience not getting what they want.  For a couple of years, Brandon tried unsuccessfully to play on an “A” team in Oakville.  I watched the disappointment on his face when he was told by the coach he didn’t make the team.  I saw the watery eyes, and could feel his disappointment.  I’d been there a number of times myself.  Each time, we sat down afterwards and helped to make a plan for him to continue to improve his skills so that he could try again.  This was not easy for him, but I’m glad he persisted.

Last summer, Brandon was asked to train with a District team (this was a collection of players from Peel and Halton soccer clubs), even though he played on a “B” team.  A different coach had seen him, and gave him the opportunity.  As a result of this training, one of the coaches from a very strong club team asked me if Brandon would be interested in trying out for his “A” team.   As we were in the car driving to yet another soccer training session, I mentioned this invitation to Brandon.  I told him there were no guarantees that he would make the team, and that even if he did, he should be prepared to be the 19^th or 20^th player on the squad and that he would have to earn his playing time.  I said he could stay where he was and be one of the top couple of players on his B team.  That would have been the comfortable decision for him to make.  Ultimately, I would leave this choice to him.  I am proud to say he looked at me and said, “I want to try out and compete for a spot.”

He made the team and it’s been a great summer on the soccer fields for his new team, and for Brandon.  It was the right move at the right time for him.  I don’t want to pretend this process was easy with Brandon.  But no one ever said being a parent is an easy job.

Since I have two kids, my next blog will be about my daughter, Alyssa, and what she taught me this summer.

Derek Logan
Head of School

Friday was a terrific day at KCS.  We started with our chapel/assembly.  I heard plenty of laughing and giggling, witnessed lots of learning and  heard “Hi, Mr. Logan!” throughout the day.  There was also a lot of rain.  It began about 11:30 a.m. and lasted throughout much of the rest of the day.  As I walked the hallways, sat in my office, stopped in at various classes, the first words that often came out of the mouths of many of the people I encountered was,  “Do you know it’s raining?”  Yes, I did.  In fact, it was impossible for me not to know it by the number of people who asked me the question.  By 2 p.m. I went and sat in the Business Office for 15 minutes so that I didn’t have to hear the question again.

Inclement weather during a school day usually has no impact.  Indoor recess certainly has its moments, but it’s survivable.  However, Friday was our annual Welcome Back BBQ.  It’s traditionally held outside in our parking lot.  In my thirteen years at the school, if I recall correctly, it was the first time it would not be able to be held outside.  As I’m a recovering superstitious athlete, I thought, “unlucky thirteen.”

Our parent volunteers had already made contingency plans to hold the festivities inside the school.  Rain or shine their posters proclaimed.  I knew we had plan in place just in case.  I also knew there was nothing I could do about the weather.  People had been letting me know about the forecast for three days prior to the event.  I’d smile.  No point worrying about this I thought as I had no ability to control the weather; I still slept soundly on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

The BBQ happened.  It was hot and humid in the gym.  The students had fun and so did I. It was memorable.  Like our 2010 Christmas concert.  That day it snowed…

Derek Logan
Head of School

Another learning experience at KCS begins with this sentence. Last year as we were updating our website, setting our school up on Facebook and Twitter, it was suggested (told) to me that I would have a Blog on our website. “Why?” I asked (I learned that this is the most important question that a history teacher asks students), “who is going to want to read my thoughts on events at KCS, educational issues, and other items that I have yet to think of?” The answer I received: “People will. You’ll see.” I guess we will.

Becoming a blogger will be just one of the new expected and unexpected challenges I will face as Head of School this year. Your children are going to face new challenges and new things this year both at school and elsewhere. Getting your children to respond positively, pro-actively and with determination is important. Help them to understand how to deal with these challenges with examples of how you have dealt with new things. Or send them to me. Since I became Head of School at KCS in July 2007, very few days have gone by without something new and challenging that I have the opportunity to solve, tackle, or stay awake at night thinking about. As of this morning, I was on challenge #1073.

Derek Logan
Head of School