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

“I haven’t really done it before, but it sounded fun and I wanted to try something new.”
–        Grade 3 student at her first yoga class

Lots of responsible risks are being taken in the colourful corridors of KCS these days. New students arrived to face the unknown; outdoor education trips tore older students away from the comforts of home; auditions for the musical took place last week; try-outs for teams started the first week of school; public speaking and leadership projects have already begun; and new clubs have tempted students to take a chance, sometimes with the serenity of the 8-year-old at yoga, sometimes not.

Truth is, this is the most popular of the Habits at KCS so far, among students that is (‘Show self-control’ would be tops for teachers, I’m guessing). If you were at Curriculum Night, you might recall the story I shared of the grade one student who told her classmate to “take a responsible risk” and try some grapes and oranges. Having been a picky eater, I know the challenge that can be. Last year, we also had a group of grade sevens who came up with the leadership project called “Get Out of Your Comfort Zone”, urging anyone in the school to get up at assembly and showcase a talent. I also learned how this Habit was leveraged by some grade 8 students during their recent trip to Kinark. He and his classmates were told they couldn’t play Truth or Dare, so they changed the game to ‘Share what you know’ or ‘Take a responsible risk’. Hoping they didn’t permanently muddle the intention behind the Habit, I have to admire their ingenuity.

Why does it resonate so? The October National Geographic has an interesting response. Its main article is on “The New Science of the Teenage Brain”. While we’ve learned a lot about the upheaval of the maturing brain, and the ensuing “neural gawkiness” that either bemuses or bewitches those of us left in a teen’s wake, current thinking explains why the teen brain is perfectly equipped, at least evolutionary-wise. It all makes sense. Over the eons, teenagers have always been at a stage in life where they need to chart their own path. They need to forsake the comforts of childhood, in preparation for the adult world they must face alone. Selection favoured teens who took the risks that led to successful independence (ideally, the risks were responsible…). Society needs individuals who have the courage to take a chance, whether it’s to walk upright, fight a worthy rebellion, or lead the next disruptive innovation. It has to start in the teen years, in the same way walking starts with toddlers.

I could go on about why taking responsible risks matters, but National Geographic says it better.

The fact that it explains that which befuddles us makes it all the more worth reading. And the next time your child takes a responsible risk, think of how this places him or her in the company of all humankind, on our collective evolutionary quest. At least, it might help you bear it.

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

Have you ever felt like you could burst from excitement, pride and stories to share?

Have you ever felt you are witnessing something rare and wonderful?

That doesn’t happen every day at KCS, but I’ve often felt this way, and for good reason. Singular events like two young students independently working out a conflict with the wisdom and maturity that most adults could learn from. Bigger student leadership projects that make our little world at KCS a much better place, if not also communities beyond our walls. And then there are the assemblies where many of these small and big moments in academics, arts, athletics and citizenship are showcased all in one sitting, and where I am overcome with awe at the potential for good in schools.

These things don’t just happen by good luck. Without question, we’re lucky at KCS to have an exceptionally dedicated group of parents, faculty and staff. But these things happen because of what this group does.

What happens here, and how they happen here, are stories I’ve been wanting to share for years. This is reason #1 for why I’m thrilled with the launch of this blog.

Reason #2 is the dialogue that I hope will follow. The special things happening at KCS have their roots in dialogue: teachers dropping by; team collaboration; meetings with any combination of teachers, staff, administrators, parents, students and friends of KCS; feedback and ensuing discussion from surveys; Student Voice; and professional development. Dialogue is the engine that drives KCS.

We hope you enjoy the stories as much as we enjoy living them. If you are not from the KCS community but part of another school or system, we hope these stories provoke the reflection and imagination that will lead to stories of your own. And please, join in the dialogue by sharing what you know and asking questions to drive the discussion deeper. We’ll be grateful for your insights.

And so this something rare and wonderful can grow and spread.

Andrea Fanjoy
Assistant Head, Academics

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