-
Struggle & Triumph
“The most important thing is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” ~ Olympic Creed During this recent school break, I had the good fortune to spend…
-
Fun Run
Go fast enough to get there, but slow enough to see. ~ Jimmy Buffett. There is something special about the early morning in Brasilia. Birds welcome the dawning light with joyous melodies, the vast and magnificent blue sky instills a spirit of optimism and possibility, and fresh air invigorates the mind and body. It was…
-
Principled In Character
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. After a yearlong review process, involving regular feedback and contributions from parents, students, and teachers through surveys, retreats, and focus group meetings, the…
-
Learners Inspiring Learners
The first three words of the American School of Brasilia’s (EAB) new mission statement – Learners inspiring learners to be inquisitive in life, principled in character, and bold in vision – were on full display this week. In the Lower School, approximately 300 parents participated in workshops focusing on several different aspects of the…
-
Trapeze Bars
The end of each school year is marked by a series of celebrations designed to highlight and appreciate individual and collective achievements while also honoring the unique nature of our communities. The end-of-year celebrations also represent a period of key student celebrations and transitions, such as kindergarten to Lower School, Grade 5 students to Middle…
-
Performance, Not Results?
Last weekend, I had the good fortune and honor to host professional triathlete Tim Don at my home during his four-day visit to Brasilia to compete in Sunday’s 70.3 Ironman triathlon (Race Highlights). Since I was also training for the race, I was particularly enthusiastic about spending time with a triathlete who won four world titles, represented…
-
High Noon
How do you inspire a generation of students to make a difference? Simple – publish a book that details the problems of the near future students will face, while underscoring the importance of immediate action. This is just what Jean-Francois Rischard, a Luxembourgian economist, did through the 2002 publication of his seminal book, High Noon:…
-
Hope Collides
The professional faculty days at the start of this school year included a reflection on key words that would serve to guide us both as an institution and as individuals. Drawing from EAB’s mission statement, words such as innovate, excellence, service, and leadership were identified as guiding ideals. Others added inspiration, community, and relationships as…
-
Compass Points
The Compass Points exercise, designed by the National School Reform Faculty, is an activity used to better understand preferences in group work. Each year, we use this activity with the American School of Brasilia’s new teachers as a means to better understand the group and for the group to better understand the representatives of the school.…