Here are some highlights from the last two weeks—October 22 through October 17—in the Upper School.
💃 Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! Arts educator and speaker Rodney Eric Lopez visited an Upper School Meeting to speak on the history salsa, merengue, and how communities have historically leveraged dance as a form of expression. Later in the day, a Mini-Studio was held for students that wanted to dive deeper into the topic (while learning some new dance moves).
⭐️ Exploring ethics in 3D: Upper School students across different classes and grade levels came together to explore the intersection of ethics and education during Beaver’s very first Deeper Dive Day (or “3D”). Students spent the day engaging with case studies and discussions while collaborating with Harvard Ed-Ethics to expand upon the ethical dimensions of decision-making in schools. To read more about the day, click here!
🗣️ Students debrief after prison visit: After visiting MCI Norfolk as part of a trimester-long inquiry into the criminal justice system, students in Theories of Punishment sat down to discuss the experience. Students shared how the visit challenged their expectations and biases, provided new insights into the realities of incarcerated individuals, and sparked ideas for an upcoming project focused on criminal justice reform.
🎥 Lights, camera, math! Integrated Math 2 students got on camera for an assignment tasking them with creating instructional videos modeling factoring. By placing students in the role of a teacher, students gained ownership of their learning and further sharpened their presentation skills.
🎃 Student Council brings the autumn energy: Students, faculty, and staff gathered in the courtyard and on the Design Level for a fall seasonal event hosted by student council. Students decorated pumpkins, enjoyed cider donuts, and designed posters to celebrate the season.
☀️ Hiatt Fellows recap their summers: Students that participated in the Hiatt Summer Fellowship program took the podium at an Upper School meeting to recap their experiences and encourage other students to get involved. From volunteering with local children to bringing solar energy to a school in Syria, each Fellowship experience was different from the next. Click here to read more about the Hiatt Summer Fellowship!
🍽️ Lunch is served! After designing tableware in Ceramics, students gathered in the gallery to enjoy lunch on their creations. The class was challenged with designing tableware that reflected themselves and their interests. From The Very Hungry Caterpillar to nautical seascapes, each student had a different approach in actualizing their ideas.
💙 Club members bring community together: Students in the Social Impact Club organized and hosted an event for all Upper School students centered around decorating paper bags for the Newton Food Pantry Kids Snack Bag Program. The event comes as part of the club’s initiative to find ways for the Beaver community to come together to make meaningful change.