The Head's Perspective

One of the things that distinguishes us is that our teachers work to teach kids how to invent, create, and solve. We are growing our robotics program. Four years of computer science is now offered in the high school. We begin teaching computer science in the 2nd grade. I believe that the learning needs to extend beyond the nine-month school year, and beyond the traditional textbook approach. This invention brings together three elements that I love: legos, time, and invention. Enjoy.

On Wednesday evening, an impressively large and enthusiastic group of Head-Royce parents, students, faculty and siblings was enchanted by the exceptional vocal talents of our Middle and Upper School students at the Fall Choral Concert at Holy Names University. The repertoire was varied in tone, pace, and genre. The program included classics from the Renaissance (such as William Byrd's "Non Nobis Domine") as well as folk songs from places as disparate as Appalachia ("Sourwood Mountain"), Venezuela ("Mata del Anima Sola"), and Southern Africa ("Funga Alafia").

The singers, led by Bob Wells, have trained and practiced to achieve a near perfect form. Their voices became the instruments. This was most evident in Colla Voce's performance of "Past Life Melodies", a haunting song by Sarah Hopkins. This piece required the students to master overtone chanting, also known as harmonic singing. This type of singing is a mesmerizing technique where one person is able to sing two or more notes simulataneously. The first note, known as the fundamental, carries all the other individual notes, which are known as the overtones. When heard together, we only percieve one note. But, when the fundamental note is split up, overtones can be heard as pure separate tones, in perfect harmony with each other. This special effect was moving to the ears.

Finally, special kudos to two amazing soloists: 7th grade flautist, Joanna Gold, as she performed "Flying Free" by Don Besig, and senior soloist Guy Tada as he performed "Mata del Anima" (Tree of the Lonely Soul) by Antonio Estevez. As I watched these young people, three words came to mind: bravery, talent, harmony.

Over the past week, I have enjoyed watching our talented upper class students perform at a variety of levels. Boys soccer made it to the second round of the North Coast Section tournament. Despite a 2-0 loss to Branson School in the driving rain, the boys played with passion, creativity, and grit. Girls Varsity Volleyball is still forging ahead in the post season. I watched them battle back last Friday evening until finally beating cross-town rivals College Prep in the first round of the tournament. They then handily beat International High School 3-1 the following night in a packed HRS Pavilion.

Last weekend was also the opening night of Almost Maine, our US Fall play. I was mesmerized by the talent on the stage of students spanning all of our grades. This morning, I observed Josh Tower leading the Middle School Concert Band practicing a version of "Cold Water Crossing." As I watched the 19 middle school students, I was struck by the similarities between sport, theatre and music. The common thread was communication and coordination.

• 11 players on the soccer field in the driving rain
• 6 Volleyball players in the din of a raucous gym
• 2 thespians on a dimly lit staeg in front of a packed house
• 19 middle schoolers playing 12 different instruments

Each child was striving for the same thing - a harmonious connection with their mate, led by a coach, all working to a common goal. Each player had a role. Each participant was a part of a broader whole. Any one individual could not accomplish anything on their own. Coordination and harmony only occurred when each person played their small part within the scheme of the whole plan, the system, the game plan, the strategy, the stage manager's vision. Reliance on the other allowed each individual to shine. In sport, the communication was unstated, practiced, but omnipresent. In orchestra, the communication was auditory and visual. Different modes but equally esential for success.