Posts by Dr. Beth Reaves
Every School Has a Story
Every School Has a Story. This was the title of one of the opening sessions for the Black Minds Matter Summit that I recently attended. This session was led by photographer and author, Andrew Feiler, whose book, A Better Life for Their Children, features his photographs and research on the incredible partnership between Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington in the early 1920’s. Through this session I learned about this partnership that started schools for Black children in the South,… READ MORE
Read MoreUnearthing Joy
I’m a reader and find great joy in books. I also am someone who has always believed that the answer to any question I have ever had can be found in the pages of a book. Great books for me have been a source of joy, relaxation and learning throughout my life. As a school leader, I continually seek to find sources for my own personal leadership journey and look to relevant literature as a way to expand my own… READ MORE
Read MoreBreaking Ground on 1865 Mississippi Avenue
Today was a very special day for our community as we officially broke ground on our permanent home at THEARC. Our new school building will be located at 1865 Mississippi Avenue, SE right in the middle of THEARC campus. Read our full press release here. This is possible because a whole community of people believe in believe in WSG, our students, and our collective potential for the future. They believe in our present and they believe in our dreams. Dreams are an… READ MORE
Read MoreI Belong in the Room Because I Say I Do
I recently hosted a group of female educational leaders as part of our newly formed WSG Education Council. This group is composed of other Heads of Schools, school leaders and other successful women who serve in an advisory capacity to WSG. Our topic of discussion was the idea of belonging, and how we might help our students to feel a sense of belonging both at WSG and their subsequent schools, universities and workplaces. We reflected on occasions in our own… READ MORE
Read MoreTaking Time to Play
Ask anyone who works for a school and they will tell you that the weeks leading up to opening a school for the new school year are among the busiest and most important planning periods. There are schedules to make, professional development time and activities, teachers are busy getting classrooms for new students, and the list goes on. Starting a new school year requires everyone to invest the energy required to start with enthusiasm and excitement, to ensure that translates… READ MORE
Read MorePresident’s Corner: Seeing WSG from an International Perspective
I’m excited to share with you highlights of a special opportunity I recently participated in. This past week, I traveled to Mexico City with Sr. Mary Bourdon, WSG co-founder, to attend the Religious of Jesus and Mary International Encounter on Global Education. This conference brought together 190 people from 28 different countries, both religious RJM sisters and lay people, such as myself, who work in mission organizations supported by the RJMs. Over the course of five days, we engaged in… READ MORE
Read MoreCultivating Success
We are concerned about our students’ learning. Let me rephrase and restate that for emphasis: More specifically, we are concerned about the ongoing challenges that the pandemic has presented to our girls as related to their education. Last year in August 2021, we were excited about the prospect of returning to in-person learning after having been remote for nearly a year and half. We dubbed the new year as “The Year of the Comeback,” as we readied the campus with… READ MORE
Read MoreLearning From Our Students
“Please don’t ever change the love for these beautiful girls.” “Please don’t change the student to teacher ratio. The close attention from teachers was very beneficial to my learning.” “Please don’t change the learning curriculum and how we learn.” ~WSG 8th grade students, 5/25/22 I’ve always believed that one of the best ways to understand how a school is doing is to ask the students. Students in the right environment will just tell you what they think! It’s why I’ve… READ MORE
Read MoreMay is Mental Health Month
In October 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) joined together to declare a National State of Emergency in Children’s Mental Health. Think about that for a moment. A National State of Emergency is primarily used in situations when there is a clear need for additional visibility and resources in order to save lives and protect citizens, such as natural disasters. By acknowledging the mental… READ MORE
Read MoreHealth Is Wealth – Physical Education
Physical Education. The terminology implies teaching students the subject of being physical, much like Spanish education or Math education teaches students the subject matter. In the past, this interpretation of physical education has led to instruction dedicated to motor skills and knowledge, reinforcing to students the benefits of physically active behaviors. Over the past decade however, the focus on physical education in many schools, including WSG, has shifted towards helping students embrace a healthy lifestyle and overall wellness for their… READ MORE
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