Berwick Academy Head of School

Yesterday, I was fortunate to spend an entire day with our board in retreat to discuss the future of Berwick Academy. The day included strategic conversations about the future of financial aid, innovation, and our amazing campus. In considering the strengths of the Berwick campus, almost everyone spoke to the remarkable quality of our main quad, the blend of old and new buildings, and the incredible open space we have to support our programs. There is an aura of learning and support on this campus that is clearly bolstered by the physical space and buildings. This sense will only be strengthened by the addition of the new Wellness Center next year. Looking ahead, there are still improvements to be made. Certainly parking is a concern, and we continue to dream about new facilities that might make the Berwick experience even more special for our students. One of the key insights that emerged from these conversations was the way in which the physical campus needs to reflect the...

Each year, I am always equally energized as the Head of School but also as just another Dad to see our Lower School production come to fruition. This past Thursday, we saw how our new Passports program influenced the production with themes that seamlessly integrated environmental awareness with multiculturalism. Certainly we will be singing a few of the songs for many weeks to come in the Schneider household. As Head of School, I always leave that event with such respect for our Lower School faculty. It is difficult to fathom how challenging it must be to get all of our smallest Berwickians moving in the right direction. From costumes, to choreography, to singing, the orchestration is beyond anything I had ever known before coming to this school. When we think of our mission and values, it is such a great example of nudging our students to stretch. It is no easy feat for five year olds to perform something in front of a full auditorium of 300 people, for example. We should not be ...