The Gunston School and The Country School Host 5th Environmental Leadership Conference for Independent School Leaders
By: Annie Hasselgren
Gunston and The Country School continue to prioritize the environment as a critical component of our students' education.
Following a COVID-related hiatus, the Environmental Leadership Conference for Independent School Leaders (ELISL) resumed for its fifth event, led by Gunston’s Head of School John Lewis, and Emily Beck, Head of Upper School at The Country School.
Independent school leaders representing six schools spanning Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. traveled to Smith Island, in the heart of the Chesapeake Bay region, to learn how to spearhead change in our schools and the growing imperative to prioritize environmental teaching and learning.
Participants heard from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) on the transformative power of environment-based education, and gleaned all they could from Beck's and Lewis’s experience in environmental strategic planning and curriculum initiatives. The three-day conference allowed participants to participate in field sessions led by CBF staff and strategic planning sessions by the course leaders.
The group also delved into the fragile ecosystems that comprise the Chesapeake, explored the Smith Island’s culture and heritage, and developed a sense of place amongst the “island lost in time.” Participants gained first-hand knowledge and experience with environment-based education, place-based education, and environmental education through setting crab pots, monitoring water quality, scraping for soft shell crabs, and investigating climate change on Maryland’s most vulnerable island.
Interwoven into these experiences was material from the domains of Environmental Sociology, as well as Systems Thinking and Change Management theories derived from Harvard Business School and MIT’s Sloan School of Management, presented using mind-brain educational practices, offered participants key tools to facilitate change within their schools.
“Learning the skills of preserving and stewarding the natural environment is essential and Gunston believes that we have an educational and moral responsibility to teach students how to live in a sustainable manner. We’re happy to share our knowledge and skill sets with fellow educators and help the message of environmental stewardship and learning,” said Lewis.
Kindergarteners have been participating in a 3 part HOHO (Helping Others; Helping Ourselves) project lead by Ferris and Laura Butler. Students packed boxes to be shipped to veterans and their families. The boxes
were filled with child friendly, donated items. Also in the boxes were handwritten letters from the students along with a handmade American flag craft. The Butlers carefully orchestrated this project, and we are very grateful for their time and efforts.
Congratulations to all our spring athletics award winners and to all our Cougar athletes who participated in sports and clubs! This spring, TCS offered Boys’ and Girls’ Lacrosse, Pickleball Club, Running Club, and Volleyball Club. Providing so many athletic opportunities took a village—thank you to our amazing coaches, volunteers, and parent drivers for making it all possible! And thank you to our students for setting an example of dedication and sportsmanship!
The Country School is proud to be celebrating its 90th school year. This milestone year also marks the beginning of a new chapter with the appointment of Jay Parker as the 7th Head of School.
The Country School, Talbot County Free Library, and the Avalon Foundation, sponsors, join with fourteen other community organizations to present Conversation & Homecoming with Carole Boston Weatherford and her son, Jeffery Boston Weatherford, a program free and open to all.
The Country School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational, admission, and employment policies, or its financial aid, athletic, and other school administered programs.