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DATE: 10/3/2019
 

Making Headlines: An Update from the Deans’ Office

In the past three weeks Student Life programming of all sorts has been in full swing. Sophomores have been busy in Connections, Seniors worked together during Senior Leadership, and the entire school enjoyed a weekend dedicated to our All School Read. Along with sports games, play tryouts, and Freedom of Speech, Middlesex has been buzzing with activity. 

Senior Leadership training continued as all Seniors gathered together for the first time since orientation week to consider the goals that they, as Seniors, have for the school year. After an introduction from the Senior leaders and Mr. Sheff, the students split into small groups to discuss moments where they stepped in to help out another student as well as moments they wish they acted differently in dealing with a challenging situation. After these candid conversations, groups wrote down goals for their class. Deans and student leaders stressed the importance of values in defining goals—to be process rather than result focused. Energetic Seniors then came back together to share the different ideas that each group had. 

Two weekends ago the Middlesex community enjoyed its annual All School Reading events that centered around the theme “The Ethics of Opportunity.” Advisors and advisees met during the week to consider various works in preparation for the weekend’s discussions. Students and faculty watched a TED talk from Bryan Stevenson, the Director of Equal Justice Initiative, about the role of racial and economic injustice in American prisons. They listened to a Podcast called “Against the Rules” by Michael Lewis about the role of fairness, inequality, and privilege in the NBA and in society at large. Or they read an article in the New York Times by Dr. Anthony Jack, a Professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education and author of The Privileged Poor about the experience of low-income students in college. The variety of works let students tackle the ideas in new and engaging ways. The exercise also mentally prepared the community for the two speakers, Reverend John Finlay of the Epiphany School and John Hamilton of the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund. 

In a fully stuffed weekend, perhaps the highlight of the event came Saturday night when the Reverend John Finlay spoke in the Fortmiller Theater about the schools he has founded and the role of privilege as it relates to opportunity. Engaging and insightful, Reverend Finlay impressed students and faculty alike in his humor, candor, and devotion to service. When it came time for Q & A, students filled forty-five minutes with pointed and nuanced questions that the Reverend patiently answered. When asked, “How were you able to find so many donors for your schools?” Reverend Finlay replied: “Maybe you forgot my intro—but I went to Harvard. That’s privilege.” The Reverend frequently referenced his privileges along his journey to serve others, citing not only the advantages he has, but also the ways he used those advantages to serve his neighbor. When Ms. Smedley told students that there was time for two more questions, nearly twenty hands shot up in the air. 

Meanwhile, last Tuesday Sophomores shared their final night of Connections. The final meeting centered around the sentence “We belong to each other.” With this idea of community in mind, students walked through different scenarios and offered ideas as to how they would hope to handle them. The scenarios ranged from “your roommate recently tore his ACL and is feeling down” to “your friend has begun vaping, what do you do to help?” Always coming back to the core theme of compassion and caring, groups aimed to openly discuss the challenging and complex moments that can occur in high school. The end of Connections also means that soon first year students will begin their journey through the Community Life program in their first meeting of Choices on October 7th.  

Finally, a small group of students will begin Drivers’ Ed, which is run through the Christo Driving School. The sessions occur from 9:30 am to 12:45 pm on most Sundays. Students need to be fifteen years and nine months old to begin the course. If your child has not mentioned this but you think they may interested, contact John MacMullen in the Deans’ Office (jmacmullen@mxschool.edu).


Calendar Notes

  • October 4: Community Life house meetings, 7-8pm
  • October 5: SATs (Class I); Special academic schedule – Admissions Open House
  • October 7: Class IV Choices begins, 7-8:30pm; New members of Class II Mindfulness, 7:30-8:15pm
  • October 11: Special academic schedule – Groton games (away)
  • October 12-14: Fall Long Weekend (no classes)
  • October 14: 8:30pm check in for all boarders
  • October 15: Monday academic schedule; Class IV Choices, 7-8:30pm; Class III event (required), 7-8:30pm, Recital Hall; Class II event (required), 7-8:30pm, Terry Room; Class I Leadership meeting, 7:30-8:30pm, Barron Room
  • October 16: No classes – PSAT for Class II and III; Class IV Choices program in the morning; College Application Day for Class I; Prep 9 visit begins

Announcements & Reminders

  • From the Director of Mindfulness Programs, Doug Worthen
    Dear Parents, 
    If you are interested in the Introduction to Mindfulness course for Middlesex Parents and Alumni just contact me at dworthen@mxschool.edu or 978-807-5735. There is space for a few more and would be happy to have you join. Sessions will meet Thursday evenings in the MX Mindfulness Studio from 6:30pm-8pm starting October 17th and ending on November 21st (6 sessions total).
     
  • The September 30th Business Office Newsletter was recently emailed to all parents. You can read an online version here.
     
  • Photos from the Random Dance have been posted!
  • Throughout the semester, students are welcome to attend optional Academic Seminars that focus on various study skills. This semester’s schedule is below:

    • Friday, Sept. 27, Senate Block- Organization

    • Monday, Sept. 30, Meeting Block-Time Management

    • Monday, October 7, Meeting Block- Reading Comprehension

    • Tuesday, October 15, Meeting Block- Note Taking

    • Monday, October 21, Meeting Block-Test Prep: How do I study?  

    • Friday, October 25, Senate Block-Test Prep: Study Guides

    • Monday, November 4, Meeting Block- Test Prep: Study Strategies

    • Monday, November 11, Meeting Block-Writing: Brainstorming & Outlines 

    • Monday, November 18 Meeting Block- Exam Prep: Organization, Best Use of Thanksgiving Break

    • Monday, December 9, Meeting Block- Exam Prep:Time Management

    • Friday, December 13, Senate Block- Exam Prep: Studying for Exams

  • From the Health Center:

    An important way to prevent illness throughout the winter and spring is by getting vaccinated against the influenza virus.  For those students living in a dormitory setting it is particularly important to prevent the spread of the influenza virus by receiving the vaccine.  

    Influenza vaccinations will be provided by Rite Aid/Walgreens Pharmacy and available at Middlesex on the following days:

    Monday, Oct 7th 5-7:30
    Tuesday, Oct 15th 11:30-1
    Thursday, Oct 17th 11:30-1

    Rite Aid/Walgreens Pharmacy will need a signed consent which can be found on the Magnus Health Portal.  Please sign into the portal to answer some questions related to your child’s medical history and provide an electronic signature. Rite Aid/Walgreens will submit a claim to your insurance for the cost of the vaccination and will bill you directly for any associated co-payment. 

    We very much encourage all students to be vaccinated but be sure to read the attached Vaccine Information Sheet to understand the risks and benefits of the vaccine before signing a consent. 

    Please be aware that signing the consent form does not guarantee that your child will be vaccinated.  They must attend one of the following vaccination clinics and they must be healthy in order to receive a vaccine.  
     
  • The Alumni Office is hoping to see as many Middlesex parents as possible at their fall events!  

    NYC Alumni and Parent Reception - October 2, The Yale Club of New York.  
    Parents' Weekend - October 25-26, Middlesex Campus
    Boston Alumni and Parent Reception - November 21, Boston Public Libray 
    For additional information, please email alumni@mxschool.edu


 


From the MPA

  • Volunteers needed to help make Parents’ Weekend a success! 

    Come help assemble registration packets on Tuesday morning, October 22 (8:00am-11:30am), or help create centerpiece arrangements with the assistance of a florist on Friday morning, October 25 (9:30am -11:30am). This is a great way to meet other parents!  Link to more information and sign-up:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084FA9A62DAB9-middlesex

    Please contact Isil Waxman at is.waxman@comcast.net with any questions.

  • We are looking for local families to host parents of prospective students for one overnight on October 16th for our Prep for Prep/Prep 9 program. Many of our previous host's children have recently graduated, so we need new families to help out!  

    REP 9 helps the brightest & most hardworking African American & Latino students in New York City & the metropolitan areas of Westchester, Long Island, New Jersey, & Connecticut prepare for success at leading independent boarding schools across the Northeast.  Middlesex, a member of the Prep 9 Consortium, is committed to accepting three students per year. During the Prep visit, students will spend the night in the dorms, and the parents spend the night with Middlesex host families. The host families are able to give firsthand accounts of what it's like to be a par

    This is a great program and a wonderful way to support MX! If you are able to help out please let me know and also indicate if you can host more than one parent (separate rooms). Please contact Danielle Fries at friesdl@comcast.net.

  • Calling all Volunteers! The MX MPA is again hosting the MX HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR! On Tuesday evening October 29th from 7pm-9pm, MX parents will decorate StuFac for this All School Event  being held on Wednesday, October 30st from 9:15-10:15am. We need help with decorating, Halloween-themed food, drinks, set-up and clean-up.  

    Please visit here: for Decoration Set up: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17GniWH1BYqY6gGp-XonTY9_zzEfVQc_jmobxwpzMPas/edit 

    and/or here for Food & Drink sign up:
    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I5_PyosMbsSD_b2dUlo5LCbiYMZwv33ev9ZfD6gE_E8/edit  

    For specific questions or additional information, please email Tracey DeBruin at tld143@comcast.net or Linda Ricci Schubnel at linda.ricci.schubnel@gmail.com .


Boys’ Varsity Soccer Cruises to 5-1 Over Lawrence

A wet Wednesday road game saw a very competitive first half open up in the second half for a 5-1 Middlesex win at Lawrence Academy.


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