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Important Upcoming Dates
Monday-Friday, July 1-5
: Independence Day Holiday: Campuses Closed
Tuesday, August 6: New Faculty Begin
Wednesday, August 8: All Faculty Return
Saturday, August 10: Springs New Family Event, 9-10 a.m.
Creek New Family Event, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, August 13: Upper El Parent Orientation, 6-7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 14: New MS/HS Student Orientation, 1-3:30 p.m.
River Campus New Family Event, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Early El Parent Orientation, 6-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 15: MS/HS Meet-the-Teacher Open House, 4:30-6 p.m.,
MS/HS Back-To-School Night / 6-7:30 p.m.
Friday, August 16: K-1 Parent Orientation, 6-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 20: First Day of the Semester - Creek & River Campuses
Springs Campus Phase-in Begins
YCC Parent Orientation, 6-7p.m.
Primary Orientation, 7-8 p.m.
Monday, September 2: Labor Day: Student/Staff Holiday
Sunday, September 22: Community Picnic, 1-5 p.m., Shady Springs
Visit Headwaters.org/calendar for more details.
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By Ted Graf, Head of School
One of the great joys of my job is that I get to participate in the end-of-year ceremonies on each of the campuses, which means that I often get to have unplanned conversations with parents, grandparents, and friends of the students. I see, hear, and feel the patterns, the overlaps, and the changes of the children. Among the comments heard and overheard this year, "Wow, I didn't know students and teachers could connect in the way yours do. How do you all do that?" Another, "Can everyone at this school sing?! How is it the place is so musical?" And this one, "I so admire that the school demonstrates to its students that transition and learning are the real constants in our lives."
Below, you will find some brief excerpts from my remarks back in May at Gates of Life and Eighth Grade Graduation.
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I'd like to offer a few thoughts about great teaching. It's strenuous, very strenuous! It requires emotional, physical and spiritual stamina because we never know what a student may carry into class, and we never know what will emerge from the world to affect us. Great teachers are like great artists--they change us, they rearrange us and our very cells. After an encounter with a great teacher, we are different in the same way we are different after being in the presence of great art--John Coltrane's "Love Supreme," Matisse's stained glass, Rothko's color fields, Mary Oliver's "Wild Geese."
And here's a poem by Linda Pastan I read before Gates of Life on the Creek Campus. It was offered to the parents and grandparents in attendance because, after all, it's a transitional moment for them too:
To a Daughter Leaving Home
When I taught you
At eight to ride
A bicycle, loping along
Beside you
As you wobbled away
On two round wheels,
My own mouth rounding
In surprise when you pulled
Ahead down the curved
Path of the park,
I kept waiting
For the thud
Of your crash as I
Sprinted to catch up,
While you grew
Smaller, more breakable
With distance,
Pumping, pumping
For your life, screaming
With laughter
The hair flapping
Behind you like a
Handkerchief waving
goodbye.
May you and your kids have those moments this summer where you scream with laughter, hair flapping behind you. May it be a restorative summer!
And a Short(ish) Digression and Invitation about Summer Reading
One of the many delights of summer for me involves reading (and sometimes napping). Before sharing my (too long) summer reading list, an announcement to
all
community members: the faculty and staff will be reading Brene Brown's new book,
Dare to Lead
, over the summer. We chose it because of its emphasis on empathy and because of her reverence for teachers and teaching. She believes teaching well is a component of leadership.
Please pick up a copy for yourself and stay tuned for details about parent book groups in September or October. We would love to engage with you about Brown's work and what it teaches us about Headwaters and our aspirations to
cultivate identity formation, foster empathy and embrace diversity to bring more peace to the world
. One other plug for a book; I
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am currently reading Daniel Coyle's,
The Culture Code
, and I'm finding it fascinating, especially as I reflect on what I learned about our school's culture this year and given my curiosity about how to build culture across three different locations. Check that one out and let me know if you want to chat about it and don't forget to tag #HWreads (read more here).
Two books about the wonder of the natural world I read this spring and recommend highly:
And my book stack for the summer:
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Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude
by Ross Gay
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The Behavior of Love
by Virginia Reeves (former faculty member!)
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Searching for Stars from an Island in Maine
by Alan Lightman
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The Overstory
by Richard Powers
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Trust Exercise
by Susan Choi
By Keelan Wackman, Director of Development
The school's fiscal year ends on Sunday, June 30. This is the last call to make your charitable donation for the year. Every gift of any size makes a difference! If you are not sure if you gave to the Annual Fund this year,
click here.
If you are listed but would like to make changes to your recognition name for this year's annual report, please let us know by Thursday, August 1.
Join the summer fun with the Friends of the Fund. Last Saturday's FOTF event was at capacity and so much fun! So, act quickly if you would like to be a part of the next events. Two more yoga events will be hosted at Heather Vicker's house on July 13 and August 17. Find out more and purchase your Friend of the Fund membership or event tickets by clicking here.
By Heather Vickers, Board Chair
I'm so grateful to my fellow trustees, who have worked so hard on behalf of the school this year. They gave their time, treasure, and talent to support the school and all we are working to do for our students. We continued to be deeply engaged this past school year, and while we did not face some of the bigger past challenges like the River Campus building purchase or significant faculty salary improvement, we did work closely with Ted and the administrative team to ensure improved functions in many areas of the school.
Some of the highlights from our year included:
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After our initial August board meeting where we voted on the final budget for the school year, we held a very successful, collaborative off-campus retreat and orientation with the board and senior administrators. Co-founders Jen Phillips and Lisa Dubuque joined us to teach about the early days of both Primavera Montessori and Khabele, so we could better understand the story and the history of the school.
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We continued to closely monitor and provide analysis of the school's business model and facilities needs. This included research of facilities needs and plans on all three campuses.
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Like many community members, we participated in the survey portion of the Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism (AIM), and we were active in the Discovery Groups. The report of the findings and recommendations raised some important questions for the school's evolution.
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Sally Blue, a local development consultant, joined us for a board meeting in the late fall to provide us with some context and guidance about philanthropy and about Headwaters' approach to development. She was an engaging presenter and helped the board focus on that important responsibility.
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Much of our time during the second half of the school year was spent working with Ted to develop a three-year plan and a set of actionable goals for 2019-2020. We look forward to sharing that work with you in the fall.
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The Marketing & Enrollment Committee rolled up their sleeves with Amy Nylund and Krista Phillips and worked, among other initiatives, on making meaningful connections with some of the local elementary schools as their students made choices about middle school.
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With regard to school enrollment, we studied admissions, retention, and attrition data for the past several years and provided guidance, analysis, and direction to the school in this important area, especially as it pertains to planning and facilities implications.
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The board, in collaboration with Ted, implemented a new committee entitled the Head Support and Evaluation Committee (HSEC). The committee worked closely with Ted on his goals for the 2018-2019 school year, and we developed a new instrument for collecting input on his performance. For the first time, this process included input and feedback from all senior administrators.
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The Wellness & Safety Committee of the board was active this year as it oversaw and guided the work of Ted and team in identifying and prioritizing possible enhancements regarding campus safety.
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I'm pleased to report that, with the 2018-2019 school year closing, the board finished its business at our annual meeting. We approved a preliminary budget for 2019-2020 school year, and said farewell to one trustee, Cheray Ashwill. We're very grateful for Cheray's service and deep belief in the school. Five trustees' terms were renewed: Julia Cuba Lewis, Allene Evans, Will Moncrieff, Jim Rudden, and Heather Vickers. Jessica Rio was voted onto the board for the next school year, and we look forward to benefiting from her expertise.
On behalf of the board, we wish you well this summer!
We consider every Headwaters parent to be a member of our volunteer community, and we have many opportunities throughout the year to help the school in big and small ways. Please fill out the
Parent Volunteer Interest form
and we'll help connect you with ways to help!
The new PVC staff liaison is Amy Nylund, whose role is shifting this year to Senior Director for Community and Enrollment. Says Amy, "I am so excited to work with parent volunteers on each campus this year. From supporting our staff and students, building community with other parents, helping in the Creek and Springs Campus gardens, supporting fine arts and athletics at the River Campus, and much more--there are so many ways to help! Our PVC campus leads are fantastic, and ready for a great year.
The PVC Campus Leads this year are Kim Flenniken and Heidi Day at the Springs Campus; Kelly Sapstead at the Creek Campus; and Bryan McNeal and Laura Quilici at the River Campus.
Robin Scott
is our Registrar and part of the admin team on all three campuses. In case you don't know what a registrar does, Robin helps with the maintenance of student records. These records include, but are not limited to, course requests, course placements, schedules, immunization records, grades, and transfer information. Robin also has been vital in implementing systems to simplify the lives of students and guides. Robin joined us in the summer of 2017 and we are so thankful for her expertise. Robin said, "When I saw this job opening highlighting skills in data management, I jumped at the chance." You might also see a number of communications from Robin throughout the year. She works closely with the Director of Studies Paul Cronin, Director of Technology Jason Lewiss, and with Campus Heads and Campus Managers.
Robin's educational background led her from her hometown of Houston to the University of Colorado for music. When she returned to Texas, she found herself on a career path that included spreadsheets and data. "But I actually enjoy it!" And now she is able to use her skills as our Registrar.
She and her husband, Rob, live in South Austin with their rising Upper El son Bodhi, two large dogs, and two grumpy cats. As a family, they're avid hikers and go to Colorado often. Robin also rows on Town Lake and is on a team with Austin Rowing Club.
During the summer, Deep Eddy is her and her family's favorite along with Jim-Jim's Water-Ice where Robin says they have the best sno-cones in town! "Cold water and sno-cones are necessary in Texas summers," says Robin.
What Brought Robin to Headwaters:
"The people! We found this wonderful school for our son, Bodhi, and I was always so impressed with the staff. They all clearly love what they do and are generally a happy group of people. I jumped at the opportunity."
Fun Facts about Robin:
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I'm a 7th generation Texan, Bodhi's an 8th and we were both delivered by the same doctor at the same hospital in Houston
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I'm an avid rower with Austin Rowing Club. There's no better way to see the city!
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I love stand-up comedy. All time fave is Mitch Hedberg, recent fave is Hannah Gadsby.
As of April 1, out of the 46,544 students who tested as part of the Duke TIP 7th Grade Talent Search during the 2018-2019 academic year, only 15,261 (32.8 percent) achieved high enough scores to be invited to a recognition ceremony--including 2,241 students (4.8 percent) invited to the Grand Recognition Ceremony.
This year, 7th graders Bailey McNeal and Hendrix Crockhard were in that 32.8%, and Bailey was also in the top 4.8%! What an incredible accomplishment!
Do you have student spotlights to add to The Current? Share your student spotlights and alumni accolades through this submission form.
Back to Top
Congratulations to Headwaters alumnus Wondemneh Pawlose '15, who just graduated with a BA in International Relations, cum laude, from Goucher College. He was selected to give the Undergraduate Class of 2019 Commencement speech, and you can
view it at this link
(his speech starts around 37:17, with the Goucher College president introducing him and giving an overview of all the ways he was an exceptional community member there for four years). We are so proud of you, Wonde!
Share your alumni accolades through this submission form.
Camp Headwaters is for children aged 18 months to 18 years. Camps will be held at
Headwaters School's Springs Campus and River Campus. Read more about camps and see openings by visiting Headwaters.org/camp!
Non-Headwaters students are
welcome!
Read more about camps, visit www.Headwaters.org/camp!
Our River Campus will also be hosting camps from local programs in the Austin area. You can get links and sign-up at Headwaters.org/camps under "Camps Hosted at Headwaters."
This summer, we want to know what you're reading! Just share on social media by tagging us and using the hashtag #HWreads so we can share your stories and picks for summer reading. Students are also eligible to win a prize when we get back to school for their post.
Ted shared his summer reading list earlier in this newsletter if you want to add to your list, too.
Happy reading and happy summer!
As we start our second year with our
online portal that allows you to view and interact with classroom sites, communicate and receive communications, and view your calendar, we wanted to give it a name that better reflects our school AND didn't lead people to Blackbaud's website to try to login.
It was a close community vote, but the winner is
The Nest
. So, when you're told to log in to The Nest, you can do so in the following ways: 1) Students can use SSO (Single Sign-On) through their school email account's Google Apps and clicking The Nest; 2) go to Headwaters.org and click "Login" at the top corner; 3) visit
headwaters.myschoolapp.com
.
*Note: some of these sites still list us as The Khabele School.
We are starting a monthly visual trivia section at the bottom of the Current to familiarize you with new spots or share memorable places on our three campuses.
Take a look and name where this spot appears--the answer will be in the next month's Current!
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Do you want something shared with the community or a student spotlight?
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