Primary Thoughts
Head of School Blog
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A Merle-Smith Holiday
As our children put the finishing touches on this week’s Seasons of Light Beako, I was reminded of the light that was embodied by a formative figure in my career, Mike Merle-Smith, whom I met when I was a young teacher at Princeton Day School – my first PDS! Bright, patient, creative, and encouraging, he
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Raising Readers
Raising Readers Neil Mufson, Head of School In recently going through an old box of school materials, I came across a tongue-in-cheek “field note” in an old copy of The Hornbook, a journal about children’s books. Written by some friends and former colleagues, a husband and wife teaching team named Dean Schneider and Robin Smith,
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Enhancing Two of the Central Pillars of Primary Day: Teaching & Learning
Enhancing Two of the Central Pillars of Primary Day: Teaching & Learning Neil Mufson, Head of School As I have become familiar with Primary Day this year, gotten to know the faculty and students, seen the program in action, and reviewed past accreditation reports, I came to believe that two central areas of school
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Policy on Teacher Requests
Policy on Teacher Requests Neil Mufson, Head of School You will find that each year at this time, as we plan the next academic year and head into our spring parent conferences, I will remind families of an important school policy. As we set about formulating class lists for 2022-23, I ask that you not
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In Praise of Boredom
In Praise of Boredom Neil Mufson, Head of School I can’t remember the last time I was bored. It is one of the things I love about being a Head of School, a career which gives me enormous variety in the content and shape of my days, as well as in the ages and roles
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“Keeping Imagination Alive”
“Keeping Imagination Alive” Neil Mufson, Head of School One of the hidden advantages of a school that serves only 4 to 8 year-olds is that within our walls, children’s imaginations are completely free and can be fully engaged. Even our oldest students can get engrossed in imaginative play. Beako and magic powder are natural extensions
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The Impact of Kindness
The Impact of Kindness Neil Mufson, Head of School As I was riding to school this week, I heard a report on NPR commenting on this week’s designation as National Random Acts of Kindness Week. The brief piece highlighted a national initiative championed by a non-profit organization called Random Acts of Kindness. Believing that “kindness is
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The Advantages of Learning To Be On Time
The Advantages of Learning To Be On Time Neil Mufson, Head of School As winter churns onward, I have noticed more and more students arriving late to school. Children are supposed to be in their classrooms no later than 8:25 each day. However, you can give your child a significant advantage if you arrive
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Report Cards and Comments
Report Cards & Comments Neil Mufson, Head of School At the end of this week we will post report cards and comments for the first half of the school year. These reports include a summary of the skills and topics your child’s class has covered to date, a personal narrative, and a curriculum-based “checklist”
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The Igloo and the Walking Stick
The Igloo and The Walking Stick Neil Mufson, Head of School This week’s snow reminded of the year I was in fifth grade and we had a huge amount of snow outside of Boston, where I grew up. Mr. Mirasola, the boyish beginning teacher whose class I was in, was probably the only 20-something on