a message from the man himself....

David says: "I'd love to be at a reunion whenever, wherever"... This is an invitation to begin the fun. I bet we can talk him in to providing the ice cream treats.
Kent, Jim, Neil... we're staying to your houses. Be prepared. Jim, tell the raccoons to move out of the guest room to make space.
Here are some dates that we all might have off:
MLK is January 21st -- we could meet from Saturday 1/19 to Monday 1/21. That provides just enough time for Oman to eat 31 ice cream sandies.
President's Day is February 18th (also a Monday) -- we could meet from Saturday 2/16 to Monday 2/18. The same could probably be said about the ice cream sandies.

When do people have spring break?
I will ask John Baird if there is a place on Westtown campus that can hold us (maybe we can stay in the cabin and have a big sleepover in the frigid winter cold?).
Southwest flies in to Philly....

As for me....
College application season is fully in swing. I know this must be true when it is Sunday morning and I'm at school photocopying letters of recommendation. But, I can't complain. Life is pretty good, the Sox won the series (and the Pats are on a run), and it did finally rain in NC (for those of you who don't know, our lakes have become fields).

Congratulations on the engagement Heidi. We need to have a Westtown Ultimate Game to celebrate.
love to you all.... elise

Reunion Dates

Okey dokey folks, lets get this thing started. Post some ideas for dates for a reunion. Summer would be easier, but WAAAAAY too long to wait to get some Westtown love. One suggestion is MLK weekend in January. That's not great for me, but if everyone else could work that, I'll make it work. In the words of our amazingly fabulous mentor, let's start a "conversation" about this. Miss you all! love, carrie

A You Tube for Us...

Take a minute and look at "Balloon Bowl". No ice cream, but lotsa balloons.

Reunion - Let's do it!

Hello to all from Upstate New York - the leaves are changing and the wind is blowing... It is hard to believe that it is almost November. Life is good, busy, but good. I started leading 25 minute meditation breaks on Wednesday and Thursday evenings before study hall begins and it is encouraging to see faculty and students take advantage of the opportunity. I am grateful to all of you for helping me feel more comfortable leading such exercises.

Oman - Adorable pictures of Littlefoot! Thanks for the reminder of how precious life is - especially in peanut form!

Carrie and Elise - thanks for the mail - I am on board for a reunion in February... Was Philly the suggestion? That would be fitting... I am afraid I don't have many suggestions but I am all for the planning and can try to help - amidst planning my high school reunion and my WEDDING!! yay :)

I'm freezing...

A few random thoughts:

The room where I'm posted each morning with the 8th grade reminds me of the sub-zero temperatures of The Cabin. Every day at 7:45 am, you are all in my thoughts.

Oman, your family is as beautiful as I expected! Especially in their Giants jerseys - I'm going to be Michael Strahan for Halloween! :)

Every once in awhile our Head gets us ice cream sandies and I grin from ear to ear (I expect it's because he was also touched by the Mallery experience years ago).

We have successfully held TWO CFG meetings and are having the October sessions next week. I'm happy to report that my "army" is very supportive and as excited about the process as I am.

I have finished (FINALLY) my photo project and am in the process of making copies for all of you.

And, finally, I am working closely with my Head to decide the next Gulf Streamer to experience Westtown. It's much harder than I imagined, but a wonderful job nonetheless.

You are all in my thoughts - as always when my fingers are practically frostbitten.
Meg :)

Correction

Oops...Keith Urban's tour is called "Love and Pain and the Whole Crazy World" ---still ---familiar! sydney

Autumnal Greetings

Hey gang,

Our school is in the midst of IOWA testing (while we are not terribly serious about it, we still do it), so I have time to write you! It's hard to believe it's been 4 months since Westtown. Like Carrie, I find myself wondering about the authenticity of my experience there. But, now that David has written and I've read your postings and downloaded our group photo (finally), I am reclaiming the authenticity of our temporary community and all that I experienced with you.

One of my (obviously unmet) goals was to write each of you to thank you for your part in my great experience at Westtown. Generally speaking, I was moved by your utter generosity and openness and affirmation. I think of you (and "my" tree) whenever I remember to truly breathe and that is a great gift.

Speaking of breathing, our elementary faculty is spending some time with Daniel Siegel's The Mindful Brain. Siegel explores meditation from a neuroscientist's viewpoint and wants educators to do so as well. If any of you are doing this work with your students, I'd love to know how you are incorporating it (Quakers, you have a head start...any suggestions?).

Has anyone noticed the title of Keith Urban's recent concert tour? "Love and pain and all the rest of it..." Sound familiar????

Best to everyone.

Sydney

LITTLEFOOT COMMETH!

ceremony




Princess Littlefoot has arrived. She came to us on Friday September 26th at 8:26 pm, weighing in at a cool 6.6 lbs, and  measuring in a 21 inches long. thats right long and lean and the most prescious and loveable little girl on the planet. I cannot tell yall how awesome and exausted i am, at the moment, but it is totally worth it.  We have not named her as of yet, because we really want to get to know her personality, and will be having a traditional west african naming cerimony in November.

This year is going quite well, school is good( sorry GREAT) and i miss you more and more, in fact i have a little ritual that i like to do...... 

1. i rock my gold like a french prostitute,

2. eat waaaay to many ice cream sandies

3. have a digital photoframe of westtown on my desk/computer,

4. try to find a twin bed once in a while to nap on

5. read the list of all the participants at least once a week. seriouslly i do this, to think of yall.

6. smile, when i think of how awesome you all are.

thanks a ton for effecting change in my life and giving me hope that my new daughter will have some people in her world that are making a difference.

peace love and soul

Oman

and yes she is a giants fan...... mom is too. big time.

The 20 second sound bite

All goes well here at school. This year's bunch are a lot of fun and have made for a really great start to the year. We have a few of the 5% wacko parents, but according to Michael Thompson that's to be expected.

The school started an anti-bullying campaign with a big kick off the first teacher day. The admin. showed an ABC Special hosted by John Stossel. Lo and behold, one of the experts they turned to for the 20 second sound bites was none other than Dr. Michael Thompson.

I had to chuckle. The faculty and administrators had no idea what it's like to spend and entire day with him in the cabin, sharing stories and solutions, not to mention having an ice cream sandwich with him. How fortunate we are to be under David's guiding hand, leading us to some of the best minds in the business.

I copied some of the handouts Michael gave us and handed them to the principal, thankng him for sending me to Westtown and letting him know where his $2,500 went. I even suggested that maybe the district contact Michael for some sound advice.

David's letter about jumping into the rushing water with the kids is a perfect metaphor for us at the 44th. Let's all get together in January and catch up. I know I can arrange for a guided tour of Longwood Gardens, a former DuPont estate, and one of the premier horticultural sights in the country. Plus...it will be warm inside the conservatories! Only a few minutes drive from Kildares and Iron Hill for a hot toddy afterwards.

Your fellow 44th and local tour guide,

Kent

Was It All A Dream?

I sit here and I'm supposed to be working. But I just had to stop and talk to you all. Sometimes I wonder if the week at Westtown was just this fabulous dream. But I know it was real, because I have talked to or emailed with many of you. And I have this wonderful blog to remind me. But as I spend my days constantly rushing from one fire to another, and in a state of constant tardiness (which I HATE), it does seem like a dream. A dream where it's ok to take 15 minutes to walk up a hill; a dream where it's encouraged to just go sit under a tree and think; a dream where everybody wants to give and nobody needs to take. Don't get me wrong, I'm having a good year. I like what I'm doing and most days I'm having fun. Just sometimes when I get home at night, I wonder if I took the time to breathe at all that day. So I go to the blog, or I look at my group picture and I am reminded of my fabulous dream. Then I breathe and I get ready to do it all again the next day.

Elise and I were talking the other day and we want to think about a reunion. We were thinking January or February in Philly sometime. Not the best weather time, but a good time in the cycle of a school year to get some rejuventation. Any brilliant ideas or thoughts on this matter would be great.

I'm looking for pictures of Littlefoot to come up soon hopefully (r u there Oman?). Go Cubs-will they make it through the first round? I love you all and miss you muchly!
carrie :)