Sensory Memories: Pancakes, Syrup, Cedar, and Love ABOUT A 2 MINUTE READ –  I stepped into Leelanau’s Student Center for the first time in 1988. I was a counselor at a neighboring school, and I had been invited to visit Leelanau by the admission director, my new friend, and a fellow member of our Midwest Boarding School organization. It was a toasted cheese Tuesday, and to this day, I can still remember the smell of warm, gooey sandwiches and the sound of laughter in the dining hall. I was struck by the comfortable, casual atmosphere and the mix of students and faculty at tables. The room felt like home and gave me an immediate feeling of community. What an honor to dine in this space today as a member of the Leelanau family. This sensory memory of mine popped up last month when Gretchen Knoblock ‘82 shared a reflection with Leelanau’s Board of Trustees and our Facebook followers. “I believe in the Leelanau School, what it stands for, and how it forever changes the lives of the students that pass through its portals. I want that to continue… the...

From Acorn to Oaks: A Lesson in Gratitude and Growth ABOUT A 1 MINUTE READ –  It’s that time of year when the crimson and gold leaves of northern Michigan have danced to the ground and lie damp on our paths. Pine needles carpet the grass, trails, and boardwalks. As we stroll the campus, our feet crunch acorns because there are so many we simply can’t escape them. Many of these acorns will be devoured by chipmunks, blue jays, or squirrels. But don’t worry, those acorns left on the ground during the darkest months of winter will be busy with purpose and potential. Purpose and Potential… This fall, we rode mountain bikes, waded in the river, played with fire in metals class, created music, read books, and paddled upstream and down. We studied the stars, Spanish, read about the Trinity bomb testing, memorized mathematical equations, examined sustainable living practices, and so much more.  But what we gained this semester cannot simply be measured in activities and classwork. We learned plenty in and out of the classroom. Above all, we...

Learning to be Astonished: The ADHD Brain at The Leelanau School ABOUT A 2 MINUTE READ –  “Let me keep my mind on what matters, which is my work, which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished.” Mary Oliver penned these wise words in her poem, Messenger, but here at The Leelanau School, we watch them come alive. Many of our students come to us with wild and beautiful neurodivergent brains, including ADHD. So, our natural setting, caring faculty, and experiential learning make for the perfect recipe for these students to thrive.  For some of our teens, slowing down can feel pretty tough at times, though. As ADHD guru, Dr. Ed Hallowell says, “Telling someone with ADHD to slow down is like telling the sun not to shine and the tide not to rise. The love of speed is built into our DNA. If our bodies are not moving a mile a minute, our minds are, ideas popping up like popcorn at the movies.” So, yes, you’d be marveled by watching our students slow down enough to become mesmerized by the salmon swarming into the Crystal River each fall.  But...

Crossing the Bridge: A Senior and Slug Sendoff ABOUT A 2 MINUTE READ –  The other day during Morning Energize, I walked along. the boardwalk with one of our seniors. It was one of those mornings where gratitude swirled through campus because the beauty found here can make you stop in awe, even though you’ve walked the same grounds all year. The fresh air woke up our faces, and the sun poked through the tall hemlocks. As we strolled, we both noticed something along the wooden bridge.  There rested two big slugs, looking like two teens smooching on campus.  We knelt down. They stretched and oozed in all their glory. The slugs’ shadows crept largely behind them. The senior stooped down even closer and zoomed in with the camera on his phone. There he was, the official slug paparazzi, snapping photos. We paused and observed the slugs for a few minutes. I mean, there wasn’t much to observe. They were slugs, after all. But to us, that small moment to stop and breathe felt like a gift.  As we stood up to continue our walk during Morning Energize,...

Advocating for our Students ABOUT A 2 MINUTE READ –  Until this fall, the oft-asked question “what do you do” was easy for me to answer. “I’m a teacher,” or “I teach second grade.” Once, after a particularly mind-expanding week of teaching, I responded, “I teach kids to question extraterrestrial life!” (But that’s a different story.)  Now, after 20 years, I am struggling to answer that fundamental question. What does it mean to be a Dean of Admission? How do I describe “what I do” to others? During a visit to one of Leelanau’s Learning Skills classrooms, I found an answer I’m trying on for size.  Leelanau’s Learning Skills program helps students organize, advocate, plan, and succeed. I am proud to highlight the cornerstone of our curriculum on school tours and interviews. During a walkthrough, I interacted with sophomores finishing up an assessment of their Myers-Briggs personality tests. “Do you know what you are, Kate?” a student asked.  I had not taken that particular test in years, so I logged on to find an answer for them. It turns out I’m a...