ISANNE Newsletter - March 2017

Last week, to celebrate my 60th birthday, I joined a group traveling with Maine Public for a week in Cuba learning about a place most of us have only known through a political lens. Our days were packed with tours, musical performances, and presentations from local experts including Dr. Carlos Alzugaray, a former Cuban Ambassador to the European Union, Christina Escobar, the first Cuban journalist to attend and ask a question in a White House press conference and Marc Frank, American journalist and author of Cuban Revelations. We visited the Museum of Cuban Art and the Museum of Revolution as well as Ernest Hemingway's home in the village of Cojimar where he was inspired to write Old Man and the Sea. We dove into learning about Cuba's past and were invited to envision its future through this daily mix.

Cuba is a country of deep contrasts and contradictions. Our guide at the art museum said somewhat in jest, "If you don't understand our country, don't worry. Neither do we." One evening, we enjoyed a moving performance by a jazz quartet -- featuring a 23 year-old pianist, a drummer, a guitarist and a singer. Some people believe if you want to understand a country, listen to its music. In a small, gritty basement lounge, this jazz quartet was able to bring some clarity to our group of twenty Mainers and our cultures connected through their music.

In its contradictions, Cuba's vitality shines through. The mix of influences of Spain, the USA and Russia are clearly evident in the architecture and culture and provide a timeline of Cuban history. Several young professionals we met possessed intense energy and commitment to develop Cuba's future. They see the crumbling infrastructure and poverty as challenges they will overcome. They are proud of their socialized education and health care, their art and music. Around the city, I saw children in their school uniforms; white dress shirts and red pants/skirts for elementary grades, gold for middle, blue for high and brown for trade school students - daily reminders of the determination of the Cuban people to find a way to move forward as a nation.

I return to Northern New England and to the emergence of our spring season of professional development with fresh eyes. As we prepare to take time to discuss and address our challenges close at home, I recognize the great learning and cultural sharing that is happening here, every day, at our schools across the region. ISANNE schools are full of the vitality that comes from discovering and sharing our cultures with one another, from greeting our challenges as opportunities and from celebrating the gifts of spring through music, dance, theatre, athletics and thoughtful reflections. I look forward to this season of learning with you all.

Here's to spring and all the beautiful things she brings!

Laurie Hurd, Executive Director, ISANNE

Together in Our Independence

ISANNE unites, supports and promotes its diverse member schools in a changing world.

ISANNE Member Views

This month's Member View comes to us from Erin Mayo, Chair of ISANNE's Board of Directors and Head of School at Fryeburg Academy in Fryeburg, Maine. You can find a link to all Member View blogs on ISANNE.org.

It's 2017.... So What IS 21st Century Learning?

When my son Gunnar was a little over three years-old, having recently watched his dad put in the garden, he came inside one spring weekend and asked for a shovel: "Just a little one for my hand," he said. "Because I really wanna dig a hole." A quick set of questions established that he wanted to dig this hole in the exact center of our newly-green back yard, "just to see." Of course we can't have this, I thought... Read more.

Erin Mayo,

Head of School, Fryeburg Academy

Heronfield celebrates its 10th Anniversary with Gold Medal Music Performances

Heronfield Academy

's Middle School music students will defend their Gold Title on June 7 at the Portsmouth Music Hall as part of the school's 10th Anniversary. The Middle School group has been competing against groups at the High School levels - and taking home the Gold! At Heronfield, all students are involved in the arts. Come enjoy performances as they celebrate this exciting time in the school's history! FMI, Heronfield.org

St. Johnsbury Academy welcomes Senator Bernie Sanders to Campus

On March 16, Senator Bernie Sanders visited St. Johnsbury Academy as part of his town hall meetings in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. He met with school and community leaders on issues affecting the town and its young people, then he met with over 900 students, faculty, and staff in a town-hall style assembly. After being introduced by junior Quinn Nelson Mayo, winner of the senator's essay contest, the Senator spoke about his key issues and then he opened the floor for questions. Several students spoke, asking questions about a diverse array of issues ranging from defense spending to alternative energy and from school choice to health care. The questions came from perspectives with which the senator both agreed and disagreed, and he responded to all questions with openness and honesty, and on occasion good humor. Senator Sanders made an impassioned plea for young people to get involved in their communities, to run for public office, and to continue to develop an active sense of civic engagement. St. Johnsbury is honored to welcome him back this June as the Commencement Speaker.

Member and Corporate Partner Events

ISANNE Member Events:

March 31-April 1 - Waynflete School's Youth Identity Summit - speakers, student-led workshops, and dialogue sessions intended to build bridges and create a vision for strong multi-cultural communities. Waynflete School, Portland, Maine.

June 19-20 - LLI New England brings educators together June 19-20 at Brewster Academy to explore social and emotional learning in our schools.

June 19-23 - Now in its sixth year, ISANNELEADS offers ISANNE member school staff the opportunity to launch a year of support and focus on leadership in independent schools.

June 27-30 - Gould Academy's Field Guide - a four-day program to learn the fundamentals of design thinking. Gould Academy, Bethel, Maine.

Corporate Partner Events:

April 11-12 - Bernstein Shur's Sexual Misconduct Response and Investigations Workshop at Berwick Academy, South Berwick, Maine. FMI

Corporate Partners

We welcome Maine Media Workshops + College as a Corporate Partner and thank all of our Corporate Partners who support ISANNE year round and generously sponsor our calendar of events! Please let Deb Cook know if you work with vendors who might be interested in supporting ISANNE activities through our Corporate Partners program!

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