A Full Week, A Whole Child

There are often fleeting moments of reflection these days as we enter the whirlwind of the final days of school. However, I was able to find one of those moments last night as I walked off the field after our lacrosse game. I saw Ben S. trudging off the field with a wide smile on his face. As we all know, that's pretty typical from Ben, but I have a feeling last night he was smiling because he had had a full week.

On Monday, he delivered his 8th grade sermon with poise in front of the entire school community (students, faculty, staff, parents, and guests) from the pulpit in Phillips Chapel. On Wednesday night, he starred in the Canterbury Players' production of Bye Bye Birdie as Albert Peterson. He (and the rest of the cast) received a standing ovation for his performance. On Thursday, Ben went to classes, spent the afternoon reprising his role in Bye Bye Birdie for the student body, and that night, scored a goal in his lacrosse game. Tonight he will finish out his role with the final showing of Bye Bye Birdie at Berry Hall, but first he needs to take a math quiz.

If we are looking for an example of teaching the whole child, I'm convinced Ben S. embodied it this week. Our students do these things all year long, and it is important that we take a moment, notice it, and be satisfied that our goal of a whole child is being met.