|
Kanji is traditional Japanese calligraphy – written language as art. One source of the kanji’s magic lies in its celebration of the relationship between filled and empty space in the visual field. The meaning established by the brush strokes is derived as much from the blank space as it does from the filled spaces on the page. The interrelationship between the two provides both sense and reference.
This time of year is heavy with filled space in the lives of students: IB assessments, SATs, final exams, college logistics, work responsibilities, family obligations, and so much more. We are in the final weeks of the academic year. After-school tutorials and homework centers draw more students every day. The good news about senior college commitments is trickling down to eleventh graders, renewing their motivational fire to earn the kinds of grades they’ll need to fill their peers’ shoes next year. What should be a joyous time of year can often be overwhelming.
Others in our community -- parents and staff -- also know this feeling well. Our filled space seems perpetually dense with personal and professional obligations. Per se, this isn’t a bad thing. At Sequoia the high expectations we champion are part of a larger conversation about balance. Being intentional about the blank spaces is a key component to creating meaning. One of my messages to students has always been about finding meaning in working hard and putting your best self forward, especially during high-stress seasons such as this one - IS the goal.
Our challenge is to help students focus on this dynamic in as healthy a way as possible.
This week, we met that challenge with a mini-golf tournament in Sequoia’s Tea Garden. Organized by the inimitable Corey Uhalde, students and parents designed and built a 9-hole course and dubbed the event The Sequoia Masters. We even had a purple jacket for the winner. Students and staff competed side-by-side, and the final round on Thursday drew a crowd of spectators. Debriefing on Friday, we were asking why it’s taken 100+ years to realize the Sequoia Tea Garden is such an ideal mini-golf venue.
Athletics, visual and performing arts, community service, and the encouragement of healthy friendships are the ongoing ways in which school communities foster healthy blank spaces for students. I am proud of the ways in which our students, staff, and families show up for the blank spaces with such passion and positivity. It gives real meaning to the achievements and accolades associated with the filled spaces. Join me in encouraging your student to spend time thinking about the blank space on their page as we wind down the year successfully.
Have a great week!
Best
Sean
| 
