Primary Thoughts
Head of School Blog
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The Need for Light
In this Season of Light, I have found myself increasingly troubled by the fevered rhetoric of our nation’s leaders and what impact that will have on our children. On the one hand, it’s tempting to dismiss, thinking that this is a particular, transient political moment and that our children are young and hence shielded
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A Holiday Remembrance
A Holiday Remembrance Neil Mufson, Head of School I believe that one of the reasons I became Head of a school that serves elementary school-aged children is the vividness of memories I hold from those years. Brad Bell is one kid I still remember and think about, particularly at this time of year.
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Modeling Gratitude Beyond the Thanksgiving Table
Modeling Gratitude Beyond the Thanksgiving Table Neil Mufson, Head of School As a kid, it was in the back seat of our family’s mint green Buick station wagon where I learned my most memorable lessons having to do with gratitude, not at the Thanksgiving table. My grandparents, whom we visited often, lived in a
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Being Little Matters
Being Little Matters Neil Mufson, Head of School In my last piece, I wrote about the child perspective Taylor Swift takes on in her song “The Best Day” and how her lyrical memories suggest that what matters most to young children are simple activities, togetherness, and parental presence. Just after publishing that piece, I
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The Power of Presence
The Power of Presence Neil Mufson, Head of School I recently found some parenting wisdom in a place I didn’t expect. First, a confession: During the pandemic lockdown, I became something of a Swiftie. Of course I had always heard of Taylor Swift and was vaguely familiar with some of her oeuvre due
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The Critical Nature of Early Learning
The Critical Nature of Early Learning Neil Mufson, Head of School Over the years ahead, you will frequently find me alluding to some of the brain research most salient to the ages we serve at Primary Day. I closely follow many sources that make these studies accessible for educators. One such publication is Edutopia, a project
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Back to School Night Remarks – 9.23.21
Parent Night Remarks – 9.23.21 Neil Mufson, Head of School Thanks so much for Zooming in tonight to gain a deeper sense of where and with whom your children spend such a significant piece of their day and to hear about the program, key goals, and procedures you’ll want to know so they will be
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The Role of Responsive Classroom at Primary Day
The Role of Responsive Classroom at Primary Day Neil Mufson, Head of School You probably know that Primary Day uses the research-based Responsive Classroom approach as the backbone of all we do at school. You may wonder, though, what Responsive Classroom is and why we use it as the foundation undergirding all the learning that
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New Beginnings
Primary Thoughts New Beginnings Neil Mufson, Head of School I often wonder if I were destined to be in schools for so much of my life because I carry such strong memories of my own early schooling. I can still picture walking into the classroom on my own first day of Kindergarten. Mrs. Beaulieu was