Page 123 - 2015 Wardlaw Hartridge

s
Gerald Ringler
June, 2015
D e a r W a r d l a w - H a r t r i d g e
Alanah Smith-Timberlake
S c h o o l 8 lh G r a d e G r a d u a t e ,
Olivia Tobey
Alexandra Vargas
Mika Walker
Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, there was a mythical hero enormously popular in our country. He was the kind of hero who could save the world from destruction with only seconds to spare. He was exceedingly strong in mind and body, and possessed endless and truly impressive creativity. He was - MacGyver.
Actor Richard Dean Anderson, playing Angus MacGyver on a television show from 1985-1992 made his character’s name a household one thanks to the amazingly facile and creative ingenuity his character possessed: with only a paper clip, duct tape, and his Swiss Army knife, MacGyver could disarm a bomb and save the world Every week. Cartoon superheroes were just that, cartoons, Jam es Bond always had the latest gadget from Q, and even the silly television spy hero Maxwell Smart had a telephone in his shoe. But MacGyver had no superpowers or impressive technology at his disposal to save the day - simply his
exhaustive knowledge of science and the everyday items around him.
Ishare the character MacGyver with you here for two reasons: first, because reading about a forgotten 80’s television show may make your teachers and parents smile and confound you with what passed for entertainment back then, and, second, because, to my mind, MacGyver is the epitome of creativity in action, and creativity is a key trait that leads to success.
Teamwork, Creativity, Ethics, Resilience, Curiosity, and Time Management a r e , a c c o r d i n g t o a t e a m o f researchers, the qualities that make for a successful person. How do you stack up against that list? While defining success is a challenging undertaking, you and I can certainly see these traits are noble and necessary. Istrongly believe that our middle school has done a great job teaching these important traits, and you move on from us more capable in each of these areas. Ithink, as you reflect on your time in your MicroDreams businesses with Mrs. Duddy’s guidance, you will agree you learned great lessons regarding “teamwork," and thatyourefinedyour"timemanagement”asyouorganizedyourstudytimeforMs.Jafriorawritingprojectfor Ms. Crafton.
Itturns out schools like ours are filled with future MacGyvers. With a paper clip, duct tape, and you and your W -H education, you really are ready to take on life.
In addition to teamwork and time management, your ethical development, curiosity, resilience and creativity have been encouraged in your classrooms every day. Certainly creativity is found in those obvious and important places such as Miss Tucker's art studio and Ms. Byrne and Mr. Fontaine’s choir, keyboard and band rooms, but I have also seen it in your P E classes and on our athletic fields. It is evidenced in Mr. Staub and Mrs. Cerminaro's math classes when you are creating mathematical models in elegant and unique ways, or when your light bulb illuminates in Chinese, Latin or Spanish class with Ms. Zhao, Senora Faus or Mr. McElroy.
Academically, athletically and socially, you have spent your time in Warldaw-Hartridge Middle School “MacGyvering” solutions to intriguing, engaging and inspiring questions posed by your teachers.
You are prepared and you are ready to impress our Upper School, and eventually you college and wider worlds with your creativity and all of your other wonderful, important traits. I can’t wait to see what you do to help our future.
With great fondness and respectfully yours,
'Mrs. Qranadcs
Margaret Rourke Granados Head of Middle School and
Dean of Studies PreK-Grade 12
Rongzhen (Susan)Yuan
Edward Zhang
I