Graduation

Today was graduation. It was a hot and humid day. The sticky kind of day that is gray and almost foggy with the moisture hanging in the air. Graduation was at 5 pm in the "Graduation Garden" behind the Gordon Building (House). It is really a very serene place with tall oaks and steps leading down a stone path to a semi-circle of arborvitae trees at the stage. The girls process down in pairs, wearing long white dresses and carrying baskets of daisies. They look so grown-up; simultaneously "old" and "young."

I love this day. It has so much meaning for the girls. This is the culmination of all their hard work, determination, perseverance, and strength. This is the day they dream about. This is the day they picture in their minds eye that represents becoming a young woman and leaving "home." For some of these girls Bryn Mawr has been their home-away-from-home for 14 years. Many of their childhood memories were created there. Whether it is reading in the nook in the lower school library, or sitting listening to the birds at the observation deck, or laughing with friends in the commons room. Today, they all love Bryn Mawr. Even the ones who rail against "the man (or should I say woman)." Today, they share a love of community and a love of place. It is a special day.

Today, the faculty processed in, and then the band started, and the girls walked down, hand in hand, under the darkening sky. Yep, just as they all took a seat on stage, the first raindrops began to fall. The Headmistress made an announcement directing people into Centennial Hall Auditorium (making sure the girls get there first). One minute later the sky opened up, lightening streaked and thunder pounded and people got soaked. I mean soaked.

In the end, I didn't get to see the girls graduate. The auditorium could not fit all the family and the faculty. Even the overflow space that had closed-circuit TV couldn't fit us all - people were packed like sardines in there. So I left. I was very sad about not seeing them get their diplomas. I was sad to not hear the graduation speech, or see the smiles as they hugged each other in celebration.

But I know that this is a story they are going to be talking about for a long time. I think this has only happened to a few classes in Bryn Mawr's history. That makes them special! What a story. They will re-tell it, and it will become lore.

So this is the end of the year. And just like the girls, I am looking forward. I am looking forward to next year; the next adventure. I always leave with a bit of optimism and I am very thankful for this. The moment I do not feel this way, I know it will be time for a change.

But today, the cooler air came in, the rain has stopped, and tomorrow is a new day.

History of Bryn Mawr School

Mission Statement:
The Bryn Mawr School is an independent, nonsectarian, college-preparatory school for girls from preschool through grade twelve. Within a nurturing environment, Bryn Mawr's rigorous academic curriculum inspires a passion for intellectual curiosity and emphasizes the delights and demands of learning. In the classical humanistic tradition, Bryn Mawr promotes the full development of mind, body, and spirit. The school cultivates respect for diversity and engenders habits of moral and ethical leadership and a sense of responsibility to the broader community.

A Bryn Mawr education is grounded in the expectation that young women will be resilient in the face of complexity, ambiguity, and change; will become responsible and confident participants in the world; and, will lead considered and consequential lives.

Isn't this what a school is supposed to be about???

YouTube Wanderings

Well, here are two YouTube videos that I discovered that I love:







We had the annual faculty show yesterday and the faculty did this in the auditorium! It was a hit! We did all the moves! :-)

Spring finally feels here!

Ah, this weekend has just been beautiful. I am reminded about why I love living in a place that has four seasons. With each transition I am grateful and feel blessed for the change. People need change; it's part of our nature. We may rail against it, we may embrace it, but we all need change.

Mary is talking to Colin about the "secret" garden:

"I think it has been left alone so long- that it has grown all into a lovely tangle. I think the roses have climbed and climbed and climbed until they hang from the branches and walls and creep over the ground - almost like a strange gray mist. Some of them have died but many - are alive and when the summer comes there will be curtains and fountains of roses. I think the ground is full of daffodils and snowdrops and lilies and iris working their way out of the dark. Now the spring has begun - perhaps - perhaps-"

The soft drone of her voice was making him stiller and stiller and she saw it and went on.

"Perhaps they are coming up through the grass- perhaps there are clusters of purple crocuses and gold ones- even now. Perhaps the leaves are beginning to break out and uncurl -and perhaps- the gray is changing and a green gauze veil is creeping - and creeping over - everything. And the birds are coming to look at it - because it is - so safe and still. And perhaps - perhaps- perhaps-" very softly and slowly indeed, "the robin has found a mate - and is building a nest."

- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

New Harry Potter Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96QRVfto7OM

This is the new Harry Potter trailer, and while I am a little upset that they keep delaying the release of this movie, and instead keep teasing us by showing us this FOURTH trailer.....I am super excited about the movie. It looks so good! Youtube won't let me embed the file, so you have to click the link above to watch. :-) Enjoy!

Rainy Day

I love rainy days. Especially when they come on Saturdays. I've had a lazy morning reading blogs and watching the rain. At times it comes down pretty hard. You know what they say about April. We need the rain though - we've had a pretty dry winter.

I want to share with you all the blog my students created on Thursday. We were talking (because this is Earth Month) about the environment and discussing small things we could do to raise awareness. We brainstormed ideas, and they decided to create this blog that we will update when we find cool websites or information.

Green Daze

The girls spell RECYCLE.

Boston Red Sox - Opening Day: Red Sox 5, Rays 3 - Boston.com

Boston Red Sox - Opening Day: Red Sox 5, Rays 3 - Boston.com


Today was opening day for the Red Sox! We played at Fenway, which was nice because it hasn't been there the last few years. I left right after school to get home to watch and I wasn't disappointed. Josh Beckett looked great and threw 10 strike outs in 7 innings. My favorite, Jason Veritek had a home run and Papelbon finished up smoothly in the 9th. All is well in The Nation! So happy the season is starting! Hooray! Go Sox!

MBC Reunion

Last weekend my college roommate and friend Katie and I drove down from Baltimore to Staunton, Virginia for our 10 year college reunion. We had a great time catching up on the road trip and hangin out with our friends, which we call "the nucleus." Some of the nucleus couldn't be with us, and we missed them, but Ubah, Stephanie and Matt were there. So we drove down on Saturday morning, left Baltimore around 7:15am. Got to Staunton in time for the class meeting where we discussed class leadership responsibilities and elected new members. We then went to lunch in the dining hall, which was just plain weird. It was strange to be back. With the few changes they have made in 10 years, its was like we'd never left. We had a nice lunch catching up and laughing histerically over "Unlacing Lilly" a title of one of Ubah's favorite novels. :-) (Ub, I had too!) After lunch, Ubah, Stephanie and Matt headed to the Greenvalley Book Fair (http://www.gvbookfair.com/), and Katie and I headed to Queen City Brewing Company for a tour. The brewery is small, but has some nice beer - ales, IPA's and lagers. The best part though was the bluegrass band The Hound Dog Hill Boys (http://www.myspace.com/hounddoghill). They are great! Check out their music. I just listened to their song titled "Baltimore Fire!"
Katie and I headed back to Staunton to do a little walking around and shopping. It was so nice to see Staunton have so much development - cute little shops which stationary, unique jewelry shops and an awesome toys store called Pufferbellies. They also have so many coffee shops! Where were these when we went to school here???? It is wonderful though, and I am happy that it seems to be thriving. It would be a great place to stop and stretch your legs if you are driving that way. http://www.visitstaunton.com/attractions/attractions.htm
Katie and I then headed back to the hotel to check in, take a nap, and get ready for dinner. Dinner was at a restaurant, but I am not going to advertise it here. It was horrible. $50 for a tough as nails, can't-saw-through-it-with-a-steak-knife meal. And that was just the beginning. Try a plastic wrap covered piece of cake for $50!

After dinner and a sad attempt at mingling (which nobody really did), the nucleus went to the Stonewall Jackson Hotel lounge to chill. http://www.stonewalljacksonhotel.com/ Now, this is not the same hotel that was here when we lived in Staunton, that's for sure. It was really nice with updated decor and a classy style. Anyway, after walking through the reception for VWIL, we got to the lounge and had a great time laughing, chatting, and unwinding from the reunion.

The next morning Katie and I headed back to MBC. I wanted to go to the chapel service at Miller Chapel and Katie walked around Staunton, took in some coffee and met up with her music professor Bob Allen. After the service, Ubah and I went with Pat Hunt, the chaplain at MBC, to get some coffee and talk. I think besides seeing the nucleus, seeing Pat and catching up was the best part of the weekend.

After some time for reflection and a crazy, hectic week, I am reminded how blessed I am for having such wonderful friends. Yes, Mary Baldwin is a small women's college nestled in the Shennandoah Valley. When we were there, there wasn't much to do outside of school and our friends. And as I look back, I am so grateful to have made the life-long friends I did there. They are my family, and I can't express how much they mean to me. So for that, I am eternally grateful to my alma mater.

Katie and I headed home and had a beautiful sunny drive back to D.C. I love that drive along I-81 through the valley with mountains on both sides and green pastures with the sun hitting them "just so." It was very peaceful. I dropped Katie off at her apartment and then this is where the interesting part begins. Then, I get stuck in Cherry Blossom Festival traffic. No kidding. It takes me about 3 more hours to get to Baltimore. I was stopped so often that I had a chance to take some really nice pictures out my car window. Here is a visual of what my trip looked like!

Can you see all the kites flying! It is by the Washington Monument.

From my car window. They really are beautifu!

From the George Washington Parkway which was stopped. The light was hitting the monument perfectly!

Georgetown, from the Key bridge. Once I got on Canal Rd. traffic was moving. FINALLY!!!