Page 3 - Priorities #9 1999-March

From the Headmaster
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Irecently attended the Winter Formal that our high school students held at the Portola Valley Town Hall. I enjoyed the usual bright lights, formal pictures, boys in tuxes, girls in dresses and music that, at times, was ear- splitting.
But I was struck also by the
students’ choices of music from an
earlier era- 60’s, 70’s and, most
surprising, swing music from the
post World War II years. When the swing music started, students did not retreat to the sidelines but jumped right in and brought the swing dance alive in their own 90’s style.
We are perhaps emulating those students in our current approach to academics. Each year we re-evaluate our academic curriculum in light of the present era’s demands. This year, our analysis resulted in a decision to bring back some time- honored concepts as well as to launch new ones.
The Academic Affairs Committee and Academic Dean Holly Thompson, decided to recapture the English curriculum as a distinct department rather thanapartoftheDivisionofLanguageArts. The Priory has always offered a particularly strong curriculum in English skills, especially writing. We want to give English a high visibility, to be sure we maintain that emphasis.
We are excited about the new Environmental Science “thread” that now weaves through the Middle School and High School curriculum. It will culminate in AP Environmental Science, which we will offer next year. Jane Goodall’s visit to our campus is in part a response to this commitment.
A few years ago we “ungraded” our math curriculum (a new concept) and committed ourselves to creating more advanced math course sections as fast as students were ready for them. It’s a scheduling
headache but it has resulted in surprisingly rapid advancement for a group of our students (an old and time-honored concept!) Now, our Middle School students are getting an individualized reading program with a somewhat different organizational twist. See Marianne Stoner’s article on page 12.
Our students continue to challenge us with their ability to take on more Advanced Placementcoursework. WeaddedAP classes in Spanish and Statistics this year and reintroduced AP European history.
Student demand for fine and performing arts opportunities is amazing. Music, drama and fine arts
courses are in high demand. There is so much opportunity for so many kinds of growth in these experiences-it is constantly rewarding to see what the teachers and students together can create.
Two new faculty members, John Provost, Theology Chair, and Lydia Maier, Campus Minister, have been working diligently with their students to bring alive Benedictine spirituality in our weekly student chapels and monthly liturgical services. The education of the whole person continues to be a high priority for us.
One advantage of a small, private school is our ability to make quick changes to suit our students. Faculty talent and the summer grants, which allow teachers to retool themselves and their courses, make it possible.
As you read this issue of Priorities I hope you become more aware of the many ways in which we try to find and foster that special something within each student. I hope to see many of you at the auction on May 1 at the Hotel Sofitel where we can celebrate the past, present and future of California’s only Benedictine high school.
Sincerely,
Tim Molak Headmaster
One advantage
of a small, private school is our ability to make quick changes to suit
our students.
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