Horace Mann - Spring/Summer 2011 - (Page 4)

Head of School letter from the head of school C onsider the first half of 2011. It’s hard to imagine a time that has had so profound an impact on the world’s political geography. From the “Arab Spring” to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, few periods have been more engaging intellectually and emotionally. Nor has there been a time that enabled the world’s citizens to learn about the latest developments almost as they happen, through the immediacy of social media. This too, has changed our international landscape, connecting those of us who pursue news analysis by experts, and those who share thoughts through the vast World Wide Web. For educators, the events of these days, and the way in which we think and acquire knowledge about them, pose both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is to teach our students to discern trustworthy sources of news and analysis. The opportunity comes from society’s newfound ability to plumb information from anywhere in the world, with instantaneous access, and to learn today how to work with those with whom we will become even more connected in an increasingly global future. For those of us teaching at Horace Mann School, where our students, whatever their age, are acutely aware of the goings on of the world, this is a challenge we accept with humility, and an opportunity we embrace with excitement. In this issue of Horace Mann Magazine you will read about some of the ways Horace Mann School is responding to the responsibilities and opportunities of our interconnected world. One is by encouraging international exchanges by our students and teachers. During the past school year we hosted students from France, educators from Brazil, a youth orchestra from England, and more. In class, our students have shared scientific research with peers at a school in the Philippines, focused on finding solutions to environmental problems common to countries around the world, and painted portraits for children in Mexico. The dimension these activities add to academics at Horace Mann has long been a characteristic of our school’s curriculum, inspiring generations of students to engage with the world. The work done by some of those alumni is described here. But, only recently have we been able to expand our education by speaking to prominent researchers across the globe through Skype, or by sharing conversation, literature, community service activities and even lessons via video, or at the TEDxYouth conferences we host, or through a growing array of technological resources. A number of teachers at Horace Mann are exploring the pedagogical possibilities of these new technologies with their students, using them not simply because these resources exist, but because they have the potential to deepen the experience of a Horace Mann School education. We will continue to explore and incorporate these advances into our curriculum. In the words of Adam Kenner, our Director of Technology, who has guided our school and students through the technological advances of the past 25 years, “Horace Mann School has a tradition of excellent education. The intent is to keep that tradition alive in a new century, with new tools that respond to new developments in the minds of our students, who receive information in new ways.” As always, we invite you to connect with us, to visit us, and to partner with us as we embark upon this exciting journey. Dr. Thomas M. Kelly P ’18 Head of School With best wishes, 4 Horace Mann Magazine Spring 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Horace Mann - Spring/Summer 2011

Horace Mann - Spring/summer 2011
Contents
Letters
Greetings From Dr. Tom Kelly, Horace Mann School Head of School
Greetings From Melissa Parento ’90, Horace Mann School Director of Development
Education in a Global Era
News of the School
Alumni Council Corner
Horace Mann School Alumni Events Connect HM Alumni as Never Before
Food for Thought: A Traveler’s Guide to Tasting the Fare of Horace Mann School Alumni
Bookshelf
Class Notes
Memorials
Philanthropy and You

Horace Mann - Spring/Summer 2011