Throughout the last month I have been both confused by and concerned about the weather. While I liked the warm temperatures, I found myself wondering what they meant. Believing it was winter (or at least should be), I wore long-sleeved shirts, sweaters, and winter coats, not because I had to, but because I thought I should. The temperatures fooled everyone. Birds stayed here and flowers bloomed. And seasonal workers who rely on winter weather for their livelihood have struggled immensely. Even our youngest students have noticed the situation. Earlier in the month, a number of them wondered aloud when and if it would snow again. In fact, after hearing Snow Dance by Lezlie Evans, they were looking forward to doing just such a dance. Of course, since temperatures were in the mid 60s and the prospects for snow seemed dim at best, I suggested that they wait. Now that it is colder, they may have more success.

With that said, I must acknowledge that as I walked our dog on the first truly winter day, I was not ready for it. As I searched for gloves, the best I could do was to find a right and a left, but not a pair. (Gloves are not unlike socks—I never seem to have two that match.) While I enjoyed the crispness of the air and seeing my breath, my ears got cold (does it surprise you that I was not wearing a hat?), and I was quick to get back to the house. Regardless, I have to wonder: is the unusual weather of this winter an aberration or a shift? Might it be related to global warming and/or other environmental issues? If it is, what can we do about it?

As we head towards the Super Bowl, I find myself feeling incredibly appreciative of the Eagles. Although I am disappointed that they did not beat New Orleans and go on to win the conference, I think they had a successful year, one that I know taught me a great deal. People in the city were head over heels in support of them when they were 4-1. Then, as they lost five of the next six games, the cheers turned to jeers and the support to disdain. We gave up on them. Then, in spite of the adversity, they seemed to believe in themselves. They began to win some games and our attitudes shifted. To our delight and surprise, they found a way not just to qualify for the play-offs but to win the Eastern Division, their fifth divisional title in six years. Clearly, we passed judgment on them too quickly. I am vowing not to do that again to the Eagles or to anyone else.

The rise and fall in judgments of the Eagles has reinforced an important lesson for us in dealing with our children. Often in life our kids will have their slips and falls. No matter how often or bad they are, we should remember that whatever happens in the moment is a snap shot. We need to be careful not to pass judgment on them beyond the given event and to remain supportive and reinforcing. We and they need the resilience and the unconditional support of one another to deal with the most difficult of situations and to move forward. In addition, if we can appreciate who they are as individuals and help them develop balance in their lives that includes both work and play, our children have the best chance to thrive, and so do we. To that end, let me recommend Einstein Never Used Flashcards: How Children Really Learn—And Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less by Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Roberta Golinkoff. Dr. Hirsh-Pasek will speak here on Tuesday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m. in our Lower School. I have had the privilege to enjoy many conversations with Kathy on the sidelines of soccer games as we have watched our sons play with or against each other on different teams; a wonderful person, she is thoughtful, engaging, and provocative. Her presentation will be a worthwhile experience. All are welcome.

It is hard for me to imagine that almost forty years have passed since Martin Luther King was assassinated. He was a man of conviction and commitment, world-renowned for his work in civil rights. Personally, I remember his “I Have a Dream” speech, which he delivered on August 28, 1963, and his assassination on April 4, 1968 as though they took place yesterday. Although we may not be where we need to be as a country, we have made some progress, and his legacy lives on! Part of the legacy is our remembrance of his life with a day of service. It was nice to see so many people—over 300—involved in projects here and off campus. I particularly enjoyed the time I spent with about 20 Shipley students and adults at Philabundance, a food bank in North Philadelphia. The bank processes about 17 million pounds of food a year and provides meals for up to 100,000 people a week. It is an awesome endeavor. Of course, while it is nice for us to have the day and to have service learning opportunities throughout the year, Martin Luther King gave every day he was alive. I hope each of us can find a way to do the same.

Incidentally, if you have never been to Memphis, I recommend it to you. The Lorraine Motel, in which King was killed, has been made into The National Civil Rights Museum. It is a powerful place. Of course, Memphis is also the home of Elvis Presley’s Graceland, which speaks to a completely different audience and is also very well done. Ironically, these two national attractions represent the split that continues to exist within the Memphis area. Both King and Presley would have wanted the people of the city and all of us to be more openly supportive of each other, regardless of race, religion, or class. We all have a way to go or, as King said in his “I Have a Dream” speech, “We cannot walk alone… We cannot turn back…”

Please remember that our next Heads’ Forum is scheduled for Thursday, February 8th at 7:00 p.m. in the Avery Silverman Dining Hall and on Friday, February 9th at 8:30 a.m. at Beechwood. The presentation will be about the state of the school: finances, tuition, etc. I hope you will be able to come!

On the subject of finances, there is another program specifically for parents of children in independent schools that may be of interest to you: “How to Pay for Independent School and College Too!” Sponsored by the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools, it features Melissa Diana, CFP, Executive Director of Sage Education Group and author of a pamphlet on this topic which we will distribute later in the year. The program will be held on Tuesday, February 13 th at 7:30 p.m. at Oak Lane Day School in Blue Bell. Further information is on our Website at www.shipleyschool.org/index_selectedlocal.html.

Hope you have a great month.

Warmest regards,

Steven S. Piltch
Head of School