Out of Office: campus visitors

Posted on April 11, 2023

Out of Office is a series from Head of School Kim Samson that highlights/focuses on time spent outside of her office: in the BVR hallways, classrooms, stages, fields, and beyond.


Spring Break is behind us, and we are in the final stretch of the school year. Seniors will be heading off for their Senior Experience in less than a month, and then a few weeks after that, we’ll be wrapping up 2022-2023.

But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves! Here are some of the incredible things our students, faculty, and staff have been up to right now.

Week of March 27

Our first week back from Spring Break was FANTASTIC! First, the community (students and adults) welcomed educators from schools and organizations nationwide for the inaugural Future FocusED Conference. This two-immersive conference on expanding the nature of school featured presentations from adults and students, workshops, and discussions. Beaver community members were both leaders and participants in all events, and many students volunteered as guides for the conference—spending their last day of vacation with us. We also opened up our classrooms to attendees so they could see our commitment to the BVR Priorities in action where it counts—with the kids! You can watch a highlight reel below:

Hot on the heels of Future FocusED was our first of two revisit days. Our teachers and students hosted families considering Beaver for the next several years. It was an opportunity to share what differentiates Beaver from peer schools in the area—which of course meant we talked extensively about Student-Directed Projects. Kader Adjout presented the SDP as a concept and I talked with prospective families and several students who were willing to share what the SDP looks like in practice. We’re excited for all our newly admitted families, and if you happen to be reading this: CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN! You got in.

Week of April 3

In addition to our second Revisit Day, this week we also hosted an event for current Beaver 8th-grade students to learn more about the Upper School. Students spent the morning attending Upper School classes, and by the time I saw them at lunch sitting with student hosts and teachers, they were full of anticipation for the next stage of their Beaver experience. And I fully understand their excitement! In the Upper School, these students will continue to use all the BVR Student skills they have honed in our supportive Middle School—evolving and discovering even more about themselves and the world around them. I can’t wait to see the ways they will grow in the years ahead.