Mission & Academics Blog

I love Christmas. As we approach the Christmas season, I find myself reflecting on what makes this time of year so special. At Brookfield Academy, our annual Christmas Program holds deep significance for our community. It's more than just a holiday celebration—it's an expression of our school's foundational values and a beautiful expression of that first Christmas night. For many of us, it is the official start to our Christmas celebration: the music, the lights, the children’s voices, and the smiles on all the parents’ faces as they wave to their children and capture what they can on their phones. It is all part of a sweet and loving memory for me. The program brings our entire school community together, reminding us of our shared Mission and our commitment to the young people in our lives. It is also a warm reminder of the joy our children bring to our lives as they share the age-old story.

As Thanksgiving approaches, my family and I love to reflect and share what we are grateful for - I am sure many of you do the same. Sometimes it can be overwhelming to take in just how fortunate we all are. But in addition to the many blessings of our personal lives, I am also so very grateful for the Brookfield Academy community. I meet with parents, teachers, and students throughout every week. I observe friendships, projects, new initiatives, laughter, struggles, perseverance, joy, and so much more. Not to mention the beauty and comfort of our campus and the facilities we all share. No wonder one of my favorite BA traditions is our annual Thanksgiving assembly. For me, it stands as one of my most cherished traditions, weaving together threads of gratitude, community, and American heritage. As students, faculty, and families gather in shared reflection, we are reminded of the gifts that enrich our lives both within and beyond our school walls. We create this time for reflection with beautiful music from our choirs and band, inspiring recitations from students, and always concluding in prayer. I think I must have attended more than two dozen -- and I still look forward to the next one.

Our recent discussions of Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation have sparked such meaningful conversations that participants are eagerly inviting other parents to join our next sessions. The discussions not only deepen our understanding of contemporary challenges facing our children but also strengthen our school community's shared commitment to their wellbeing.

With Grandparents Day coming up tomorrow, I can’t help but reflect on the importance of family - both grandparents and parents - in fostering a love of learning in their children. That incredibly important spark of curiosity lies in every child; family life is the perfect environment to kindle that spark into a bright flame of interest and enthusiasm for the wonders of our world.  

We profess that Brookfield Academy strives to offer our scholars an enriching Classical Education.  But what does that mean? The simple answer is human flourishing - that is, we guide students toward truth, goodness, and beauty… and help them to value these things. This is a lifelong process, but by exposing young people to great literature and a strong history background, they begin to learn what develops a person’s character, how we need to struggle for the good, and how beauty lifts the heart. They are introduced to math and science as well - the amazing doorway to the wonders of our world. To attain mastery, these disciplines require hard work, diligence, and other excellent habits of mind - more gifts they can take into their adult lives. Of course, classical education is nothing new – it can be traced back centuries, all the way to the ancient Greeks, who valued wisdom and strove for excellence.   

In the halls of our school, we speak of our Founders with well-deserved respect. Their faces can be found on the walls of the Head’s office and throughout Founders Hall. They look out at us every day: Mr. Bill Smeeth, Mr. William Law, Mr. Wally Davis, and Mr. Robert Baird. Behind these larger-than-life figures were ordinary men – fathers, husbands, and members of our community who dared to dream of something excellent for their children.

The end of the school year always seems SO busy. With summer coming, it seems like things should be slowing down, but nice weather, outdoor activities, awards celebrations, school programs, and more this time of year can be overwhelming. There are only six weeks left in the school year, and I thought it would be helpful to offer some practical suggestions for families to finish the year strong…and more importantly, joyfully. 

Yes, I do love the curriculum and of course, I value the Five Stars tremendously. The view from the Primary School assembly each morning around the flagpole is always inspiring. I appreciate so many other things as well. But truly what makes BA the treasure that it is to me are the families. The parents and children who chose to be a part of this community, who get up every morning and show up. The education we provide attracts parents interested in both strong academics and character development for their children. Our families are what makes the difference.

Follow effective action with quiet reflection, from the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.
- Peter F. Drucker

Our busy world does not lend itself to regular self-reflection. Somehow it almost seems lazy to take time to reflect when we can be getting something else done. But the truth is, there is nothing lazy about reflection. Sure, we learn by experiences and from our mistakes in action. But, unless we take the time to think about these experiences and carefully study our mistakes and identify the lessons we might learn, we won’t actually make the needed changes. We won’t grow and improve. Self-reflection enables a person to go further than just experiencing, and step more deeply into understanding and ultimately change. It is true that we all do, in fact, self-reflect to some extent, but to do it well and fruitfully, we need to take time - uninterrupted and quiet time.

Why do we find ourselves struggling at times to stay focused for extended periods of time? Why do we feel lost when we misplace our phones? Are these two things connected? Currently, I am reading a book with a large group of teachers, entitled Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention and How to Think Deeply Again, by Johann Hari. It is an interesting read. I recommend it and am excited to participate in a lively discussion with my colleagues in the coming weeks. It is really making me think about our habits and behaviors.