From Emily Sclafani, Dean for Class of 2026
Who wants to see a dancing panda? Last week, the 9th graders (along with some of you) were fortunate to hear from Max Stossel, a former social media strategist who wants young people to understand how the technology they use is designed to keep them distracted and addicted: “some of the most brilliant algorithms that have ever been invented are essentially playing chess against your brain to try and serve you a version of the world that is most engaging to you.” I think it’s really important for us to acknowledge this when we invite our kids into conversations about what it means to spend their time well; if we acknowledge that the way they interact with social media isn’t totally within their control, then they might be more willing to accept our help in setting healthy boundaries on their digital lives. I imagine this might come up for some of you when discussing interim grades and comments at home. Encourage your kids to set a few goals for the fourth quarter (even where they are thriving!), and make room for them to reflect on Stossel’s message when you ask them how they might set themselves up for success, and how you can help. In the meantime, April brings ample opportunity for our students to spend their time well IRL. There’s a student-organized movie night in the works for this Thursday evening (4/13) during our Parent Forum; Student Government elections (4/26) offer a terrific opportunity for community engagement; and of course we’ve got the Orchestra Extravaganza (4/14), Jazz Rock concert (4/20), and Spring Carnival (4/23) all happening right here on campus. Hope to see you there!