“Daddy, will you make a sand castle with me?” “Look at all my hermit crabs……”  “I got you. You’re it!”

Holding out and hoping to lengthen the summer, I observed and heard all of the above at the beach the last weekend in August. As I looked around I noticed parents and children actively involved in water-related activities. Whether they were building a sand castle, finding hermit crabs, collecting sea shells, playing tag, or just having a catch, they were engaged together and having fun. For my three children and me, it was an endless game of “Monkey in the Middle” that kept us going. We played longer and harder than at any time in the past. Fortunately, whenever someone got sensitive or tempers began to flair, a quick dunk in the water cooled things off. 

While the interactions I observed and experienced were wonderful examples of quality time for families, they were more! In truth, it appeared that not only the kids, but the parents, found excuses to do things that they loved doing, things that brought the child alive in them. There’s something magical that occurs when adults let this happen. Seeing it occur on the beach reinforced the importance of doing it year round. Finding the energy and enthusiasm that allow us to connect with our children and to enjoy our lives more fully is essential for all of us to be effective as parents and people. The challenge is to make sure we do it every day.

When school was ending in June, I talked about the slower pace of summer. While spending much of the summer driving our kids to different activities, I realized the pace is no slower; it’s just different. In its own way it provides us with the opportunity to see ourselves, our children, and the world from a different perspective.

One of the highlights of the summer for me was having the opportunity to see the Olympics. In spite of all the controversy associated with judging, drug infractions, and politics, it was a wonderful show. There were so many success stories. The easy ones to remember are the gold medal performances such as those of swimmer Michael Phelps, gymnasts Paul Hamm (despite the judging issues) and Carly Patterson, and the women’s soccer, basketball, and softball teams. And, there were the obvious disappointments, such as men’s basketball, the men’s and women’s 4x100 relay teams, and Gail Devers and Alan Johnson (both of whom failed to complete the first round of a 110 meter hurdle race). While those individuals who won gold demonstrated their ability to come through under pressure and the teams reinforced and, in some instances, idealized the importance of team work, the results are superficial in the context of the effort as a whole.

Those who did not win gold (or any medal) did not necessarily fail. The very process it took to get there is what life is about. Sometimes the athletes’ hard work and ability can be lost from the public eye when they don’t win a medal; and yet, what more can you ask of an athlete or any other person in life than to put his or her best foot forward to find out just how good he or she can be? Perhaps Aquil Abdullah, who was a member of the U.S. Rowing Team, put it best after he and his teammate, Henry Nuzum finished sixth in a field of seven in the double sculls final. Abdullah said, “I had the chance to line up against the best athletes in the world and see where I stand. It is a rare opportunity for any individual to really test themselves in that type of arena.” Nuzum noted, “It was probably our best race of the year.”

Personally, I loved the competitive nature of the games and was particularly pleased to see the improving level of competition around the world. While I rooted strongly for American performers, I was in awe of all of the countries and athletes. True excellence is hard to achieve. It was apparent in abundance during the Olympics.

Coinciding with the Olympics was preseason for our fall athletes. While their skill level may not be the same as the athletes in the Olympics, their efforts, enthusiasm, and approach are no less important. We have more Upper School students out for fall sports than in any year I can remember, and I was impressed by their hard work, motivation, and pride. On the basis of what I saw, I anticipate that the girls’ field hockey and soccer teams and our boys’ soccer team will have very competitive seasons. I will look forward to watching them play and would love to see you out at the games. (Please note that the schedules are available on the website, and set aside Saturday, October 16, when we will have a cook-out and many of our teams will play on the Upper School campus.)

The internal fulfillment alluded to by Abdullah and Nuzum is the same kind of fulfillment that we want our children to find in the classroom, on the playing field, in the art and music rooms, on the stage, and in life. We want to provide them with the tools to challenge themselves and to learn from their errors; they must learn to fall down and get back up, just as Paul Hamm did when he fell on his vault but came back to win the all-around title in gymnastics. If we can help our children develop resilience, sense of self, and confidence, they can become the best students and people possible. This is the essence of our mission and our new strategic plan (which you will soon be receiving in the mail). As I look to the 2004-05 school year, I invite all of us to form the partnerships that will allow this to happen.

In the coming days and weeks we will all go through transitions associated with beginning a new year. If we agree to be patient and to work together, your children—our students—will have the best chance to thrive. With this in mind, I look forward to seeing you at the many events that are forthcoming. If I can be of help with anything, please email me at spiltch@shipleyschool.org or call me at 610-525-4300. My thoughts and wishes are with you.

Warmest regards,

Steven S. Piltch
Head of School

P.S. Please note the four Heads’ Forums that we have on the calendar. Maggie Granados, Harry Worrall, and Tom Nammack, our Division Heads, will join me to address topics of concern and to answer questions. If you have a particular topic that you would like us to address, please email or call me. The first forum is scheduled in Beechwood House on Friday, October 15 at 1:00 pm.