***

Our grandson Jaxson is 11 and a half, and our granddaughter Brooklyn is 7 and half.

We are known by them and others as Doc and Queenie.  My husband is fond of saying that our names sound like we are we are a couple of old draft horses who pull a cart downtown –“Come on Doc! Come on Queenie!” — but we have embraced our grandparent names, and needless to say we wear them proudly.

Well, on this special day and in front of all of you, I think I can comfortably say: Isn’t it grand to be a grand?!

I think so, because as a grand we can somehow see ourselves with a special and unique distinction. It’s different than when you are the parent. As a grand you are able to confidently and unapologetically say (potentially even to a relative stranger), “Oh here, just get comfortable for a moment will you, and let me share not one, but one hundred and one pictures…and oh here, let me regale you with fascinating stories of my extraordinary grandchild.”

When Diane Dunne asked me to share what Mackintosh has meant to me and my family, I thought about how I felt the first time I pulled into the driveway off of what used to be an old country road.  I was instantly drawn to the Littleton campus of Mackintosh Academy. I loved it because it is so graceful and unassuming, without imposing arrogance or pretense.  It gives the impression of a quiet respite from the rest of the world.  It seems that the intention is to convey the message “Come on in. You are welcome, and cared for, and accepted here.”

As it turns out this beautiful space happens to also set the stage beautifully as an ideal environment for the children here to learn and grow strong.   A place where they are safe, and free to experiment and express themselves, and yet still have a great balance of clear guidelines that keep them going in an always positive direction.

The teachers and faculty here at Mack have impacted our lives in many ways with their smiling faces in the car line for pick up and drop off, and staying in close communication with the family with observations about the kids and updates and feedback. Sometimes it may be just quick email to share something that the kids did that was particularly sweet, or funny, or thoughtful, or smart. Other times it might be a phone call if something arises that requires a little special attention. The staff always seems to know how to expertly navigate even delicate topics.

An interesting phenomenon that I have noticed, is that every year we have been at this a “little school with the big heart,” we have said among ourselves “Wow! We are so lucky this year, because Jaxson and Brooklyn are in just the right spot with their particular teacher.”    But you know, after many years we have come to learn that it’s not luck at all. It is by brilliant design, the product of tireless hours, and a principled commitment to bring the very best teachers and programming to the school for the betterment of the students and their families. The teachers here are so in tune with the students, seeming to expertly know how to reach out and help them find each of their unique and special gifts, even if they happen to be hidden deep down inside.  Encouraging, them by enthusiastically communicating, “Hey you fabulous kid! What do you want to do?  Where do you want to go? Because you know what?… I’m here to help you do that and go there!”  Here, there is no ceiling, glass or otherwise, that can keep you down – the sky is the limit!  They don’t stop there. They expand that message with, “Hey guys, we are not just going to learn from books and computers. We are going to sing, and act, and run, and jump, and play outside, and learn how to be good sports, and team members, and citizens, respectful listeners (even when we disagree), and empathetic, and good communicators, and how to be a good friend.”

In the end what I have learned is that this little school with its big heart, and all that it embodies, does not happen without the love, care and support of those who reap its benefits.   As with all things that are worthwhile, it calls for participation and sometimes sacrifice from all of us as a community, to cheerfully give of our time and talents and treasure.    In big ways and in small ways, each one doing his or her own part, that’s when the magic happens – when we look for ways to serve.  For us, in our family, the small investment that we have made here, has been returned to us many times over just their smiling faces at the end of the school day. We are grateful every day for the privilege of being a part of this awesome school and family.

Isn’t it grand to be a grand?

The post Isn’t it Grand to be a Grand? A Grandparent’s Perspective on Mackintosh appeared first on Mackintosh Academy.

The first part of The Grand Event came from NPR’s StoryCorp. Dave Isay, the founder and president of StoryCorp, created an app that enables users to record conversations, and StoryCorp is challenging students across the nation to interview an elder over the Thanksgiving weekend and to upload the conversation to the StoryCorp archive at the Library of Congress’s American Folklife Center. It is called The Great Thanksgiving Listen, and Mackintosh Academy is participating by inviting its students in all grades to interview and record their guests at The Grand Event. The purpose of The Great Thanksgiving Listen is “to engage people of all ages in the act of listening.” StoryCorp is hoping to “preserve the voices and stories of an entire generation of Americans over a single holiday weekend,” and the students of Mack-Littleton will help give them a running start.

From the StoryCorp website:

The curriculum will help students develop the following:

• Research, archiving, and planning skills
• Speaking skills that enable students to express ideas clearly and persuasively
• Listening skills that reflect increased comprehension, lead to critical analysis, and advance discussion
• An increased connectedness, to community and to school
• A deepened sense of social awareness, exhibited by appreciation of diversity and respect for others

The students will prepare for the event by getting into their buddy groups to practice the interviews ahead of time. Students who will not see elder relatives or special friends until Thanksgiving will be encouraged to record their interviews then.

In addition to interview questions from the StoryCorp, each grade level will add questions that tie into their IB units of inquiry. Grades K-1-2 will ask questions about Celebrations & Traditions, for example.

“Remembering and honoring what has been fits in with this time of year as well as being a part of our Smart Village initiative, ” said Mack-Littleton Head of School Diane Dunne.

The second half of The Grand Event highlights the innovate/create/make aspects of The Smart Village; it is the Mackintosh Market Place, featuring the results of the middle year students’ agriculture/plants/botany unit. Customers will have the opportunity to buy the seedlings grown by the students in containers designed by the students in their Design Class. Some students explored 3D printing to make their containers while others used “upcycled” items to create their planters. Also for sale at the Market Place will be:

• Books by Mackintosh Authors Dave Kelley and Meg Rich
• New and used books for all ages
• Home-cooked items from the Parent Council: Empanadas, tamales, pies and more
• Pizza from community partner Jet’s Pizza

To tie in both the spirit of listening/receiving/preserving with the spirit of innovating/creating/making, one of the interview questions the students will be asking their “grand” guests will have to do with what innovations they have witnessed or contributed to in their lives.

Both halves of The Grand Event combine to make a grand event, indeed.

The post Campus Spotlight: Mackintosh Academy-Littleton’s “The Grand Event” Embodies Aspects of The Smart Village Initiative appeared first on Mackintosh Academy.