Author: Rob Hansen, Head of School

The Leelanau School: Where Wonder is Revived

September 28, 2022

The Leelanau School: Where Wonder is Revived ABOUT A 2 MINUTE READ – Humans, especially children, are natural observers. Over time, however, our curiosity gets squashed. We don’t stop to look at the skeleton of an old leaf, listen to the gentle pulsing of a river, or touch the smoothness of a fallen acorn. So, our joy diminishes. But here, at the Leelanau School, wonder is revived. As a new faculty on campus, I had a small moment in time which demonstrates this… On move-in day, a freshman asked me, “Hey, wanna go checkout the river?” “Sure!” I said, as he ran ahead. We stood on the bridge together, sun beaming down through the trees. From another state, his excitement to observe Northern Michigan was wiggling out of him. Right away we spotted a toad on the muddy bank. The freshman bolted down, trying to catch it. The toad leapt into the water. We both laughed and the freshman knelt down, looking into the river. Almost meditating. Next, another toad jumped into the water. And another. And another! With each splash, we gasped, then squealed...

The Benefits of Residential Life at a Boarding School

July 14, 2021

The Benefits of Residential Life at a Boarding School about a 2 minute read Residential Life programs provide a boarding school with uniquely important opportunities for students to learn and develop beyond the academic curriculum. Boarding Schools who value and invest in their Residential Life programs with the same priority as they do their academic programs foster greater in-depth learning for their students. It is in these residential opportunities that they develop readiness not only for their next academic step but for marketable and valuable skills necessary to be successful in the workforce and their community. Schools who choose to invest in Residential Life will see greater success in their graduates becoming productive members of society due to their resultant emotional, social, physical, and life skill development. Residential Life programs provide both the opportunity and obligation to create a curriculum that fosters life skills, character, resilience and community values. Such learning ensures the development of personal wellness, self-confidence...

The Importance of Seeing the Small Things

June 25, 2021

The Importance of Seeing the Small Things about a 1 minute read Small Moments are where the magic happens. We can all get caught up in the big moments of life, preparing our youth and selves for the next milestone – making sure students are understanding the material, accumulating developmental assets, and learning independence in order for them to be productive members of society. Sometimes we all forget to slow down and look around. Slow down and look around The small moments often get glossed over in life because we are reaching for the next big goal. The quiet victories, opportunities for help, and daily demonstration of character can get lost in the shuffle of life. But these moments are what makes learning and living special. It is essential to celebrate all the small things because “life is a journey, not a destination”. Success in education requires taking time to get to know students and families. It is what makes growth and development possible. It is what allows a school to become a connected community; a village where learning...

Creating an Attitude for Learning

February 15, 2021

Creating an Attitude for Learning ABOUT A 2 MINUTE READ – Real learning is an active, engaging and personally rewarding process. School should not be defined as a “place” to go. It is instead a journey of exploration, creation, challenge, and fulfillment. Growth and learning demands us to do things we have never done before. That definition can be either intimidating or exciting. Our attitude determines which it will be. To create an attitude for learning, each day has to foster a frame of mind that encourages effort, perseverance, and celebration. As educators, it becomes our obligation to build an environment that allows for this intrinsic construction of the value of learning. A boarding school, with influence over both academic and residential aspects of life, can help to establish the habits that sustain a healthy attitude. Learning requires we start each day right. Starting the day right is essential. Teaching and learning requires good rest and readiness. It starts with establishing an evening routine that allows you to feel ready...

Teaching In The Woods

January 21, 2021

Teaching In The Woods ABOUT A 2 MINUTE READ – 2020 was a rough year that seemed to only get more challenging after trees lost their leaves, sunlight faded, and the cold seeped in deep. As we begin 2021, even though the hours of sunlight are finally lengthening, winter is just starting in earnest and nothing less than a global pandemic still has us firmly in its grip. Sweetness will come out of hiding We don’t just talk about resilience, we are surrounded by it. Just walk around our campus and you’ll see the ever-greens of hemlocks, pines, and firs. Tracks in the snow give away secrets of wildlife adapting and persevering. Bright red berries, conspicuously uneaten, might also catch your eye. The berries of the local viburnums (otherwise known as American Highbush-Cranberry) taste and smell so bad that even the hungriest creatures this time of year say “no thank you.” If you were to smush one between your fingertips and smell it you might say it smells acidic, sour, or musty. You might say it smells like a body part with a name similar to...