http://cwablogs.org/blogs/hdmblog Thoughts from the Headmaster Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:37:48 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The economy has been on the mind of nearly everyone lately.  It seems that nearly every week some bad news hits the headlines.  I've been asked by a number of people how the turmoil around us may affect Charles Wright.  I recently sent a letter to parents on this topic....Please ... http://cwablogs.org/blogs/hdmblog/2008/12/14/letter-to-parents-about-cwa-and-the-economy/ Ever since moving with my family to the Northwest in 1996, our Thanksgiving ritual has been the same: the drive, often in the rain, through Seattle to the Mukilteo ferry and across to Whidbey Island. My younger brother and sister-in-law moved to Whidbey in 1993, and when my family came ... http://cwablogs.org/blogs/hdmblog/2008/12/02/giving-thanks-at-thanksgiving/ One of my favorite things to do is to visit the first grade to watch an “Authors’ Tea” in action.  Several times a year the first grade classes write their own stories, based on the theme they’ve been studying, and then read the stories out loud to each other and ... http://cwablogs.org/blogs/hdmblog/2008/11/09/a-visit-to-authors-tea/ A few weeks ago someone turned to me and asked “What’s the school’s business model?”  I grinned and replied, “tuition in—salaries out.”  That’s only a slight exaggeration.  About 90% of the school’s revenue comes from tuition payments, with the other 10% coming from a combination of annual giving and endowment ... http://cwablogs.org/blogs/hdmblog/2008/10/06/the-cwa-business-model/ The weather was simply perfect, and the atmosphere was festive at "my" picnic last Friday.  The picnic is one of my favorites among all the various community-building events we put on each year at CWA.  For returning families, it's an opportunity to reconnect with families they haven't seen much since ... http://cwablogs.org/blogs/hdmblog/2008/09/14/thanks-for-coming-to-my-picnic/ In the week before Labor Day I noticed that a number of comic strips had the theme “Summer is about over... it’s time to go back to school.”  The typical “message” was that kids were upset and their moms were ecstatic that school was about to start.The “kids hate to ... http://cwablogs.org/blogs/hdmblog/2008/09/06/the-world-of-the-comics-vs-the-real-world/ We officially broke ground on the new language and performing arts building last Monday, May 19!  It was a thoroughly Tarrier event!  On a chilly but sunny morning, all the students came together on the lawn outside of the west wing of the Upper School.  Bill White served as emcee, leading ... http://cwablogs.org/blogs/hdmblog/2008/05/26/a-thoroughly-tarrier-event/ Under the headline Once again, Charles Wright earns crown at Knowledge Bowl, the News Tribune wrote a recent article about the CWA Knowledge Bowl team, noting that we've taken the 1A State Championship 4 out of the last 5 years (and they've won the state championship eight out of the ... http://cwablogs.org/blogs/hdmblog/2008/04/27/cwa-wins-another-state-championshipho-hum/ I realized to my suprise and dismay that it has been nearly 3 months since I have posted a blog entry.  It's been a very busy time at CWA.  The late winter and early spring are the peak of "hiring season" at CWA, when we learn of those who will be ... http://cwablogs.org/blogs/hdmblog/2008/04/20/its-been-too-long/ Charles Wright is forming a partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound. Initially, this partnership will involve two strands: collaborating on community service opportunities and working together to bring high financial need students to the school. Support for this collaboration is being provided by a generous ... http://cwablogs.org/blogs/hdmblog/2008/01/25/cwa-to-form-partnership-with-boys-and-girls-clubs/