Roycemore School Weekly Newsletter
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The Turing Test:
The Test our Student's Won't Ever Take that will Significantly Influence Their Future
By: Adrianne Finley Odell
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In 1950, Alan Turing, a British mathematician and computer scientist,
wrote an article,
Computing and Machinery Intelligence
, that questioned what it would mean for machines to think. He proposed a test whereby someone asks a question and it is answered by a computer in another room. The proposal was that if the inquirer could not determine whether the responder is human or machine, then the computer passed the “Turing Test.” It is predicted that advances in artificial intelligence (AI) will result in computers regularly surpassing human performance in every area by the time our current third-grade students graduate from high school- the year 2029.
Roycemore students need to know much more than how to do well on a test. They need to learn to think creatively, to problem-solve in multiple ways, to draw upon diverse points of view, to network, and to collaborate using the latest technologies. They need to be able to tell compelling stories verbally, in writing, digitally, and artistically. They should benefit from the sage wisdom of mentors and coaches who can guide them as generalists as well as experts who can help hone their thinking. They need to have a global understanding, to ascertain what is ethical in their decision-making, and to manage their lives with a balanced approach to their well-being. This, and more, is what we want for our children as they march toward adulthood. Indeed, it will be essential if they are to thrive once computers start to consistently pass the Turing Test...
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Coming Up on the Calendar
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- Thursday, March 5th - FREE Yoga at Roycemore, 5:00pm
- Friday, March 6th - US Basketball 2 on 2 Tournament at Roycemore, 4:00pm
- Monday, March 9th - Friday March 13th, Lower School Theme Week
- Tuesday, March 10th - FAN Event: Ready or Not, Madeline Levine, 7:00-8:30 Event Details
- Thursday, March 12th - Upper School Play, 6:00pm
- Thursday, March 12th - FREE Yoga at Roycemore, 5:00pm
- Friday, March 13th - Upper School Play, 7:00pm
- Monday, March 16th - Friday, March 20th - Spirit Week
- Monday, March 16th - FAN Event: White Fragility, Diangalo, 7:00-8:30pm Event Details
- Thursday, March 19th - FREE Yoga at Roycemore, 5:00pm
- Friday, March 20th - Lower School Potluck, 5:00pm
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Announcing Roycemore's New Athletic Director
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Following a comprehensive search with candidates from around the country and the world, Nipheannaboth "Both" Long has been named Roycemore's next Athletic Director.
Both received his B.A. from Boston College and also studied at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain and the Universidad Catolica Argentina in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fluent in Khmer and Spanish, Both was recognized as a member of the United States Soccer Coaches "30 Under 30" in 2018. Both currently works in the Athletic Department at Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill, MA, where he has also taught Spanish. At Beaver Country Day, Both designed and led Advanced Spanish courses studying Latin American Social Movements. Students extended their learning through projects they created and through multiple guest speakers that led to a dynamic classroom environment. Prior to Beaver Country Day, Both worked at St. Mark's School in Southborough, MA where he taught Spanish, served as the Associate Director of Diversity and coached soccer and basketball. Additional experience includes serving as the Assistant Coach and Director of Education for The Technical Institute in Houston, where he designed and taught training curriculum and supervised staff coaches for the Women's Premier Soccer League. Both also previously served as Director of Operations and Residential Director at Arsenal Soccer Schools, NY, and F.C. Barcelona Escola Soccer Camps, London England. In addition to coaching, Both's interests include yoga, rock climbing, reading, spinning, cooking and functional fitness...
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Matching Challenge Update
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Thank you to the 62% of Roycemore families that participated in last month's Matching campaign. Your commitment to the school makes the difference and we are so grateful for all your support. Here are the current participation rates per division.
Thanks again to everyone who gave!
Final Parent Participation Rates
Early Childhood: 56%
Lower School: 67%
Middle School: 71%
Upper School: 60%
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Students in Grades 8-11 were recently surveyed during Advisory about next year's JST travel options and they chose (drumroll please).................
France and Spain!!!
Highlights of the itinerary include Paris, the Côte d'Azur, Monaco, Èze, Nice, and Provence in France. Plus, Barcelona, Madrid, and Toledo in Spain.
Interested families can read more about the trip below and register their interest by clicking the "I'm Interested" button on the trip information page. Please also be aware that there is a student/parent travel meeting tomorrow!
JST 2021 Trip Meeting
Wednesday, March 4th
5:30 pm in Room 235
Interested Students and Parents to Attend
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"We Are All Roycemore" Photos
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Lisa Gottschalk, professional photographer, was on campus last week shooting portraits for our annual "We Are Roycemore" initiative. She was able to photograph the following grades: PK, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th and some of our Upper School students. She will be back on campus
March 4th
to photograph JK, K, 5th, 6th, 7th and the rest of the Upper School students.
There is no charge for students to sit for these photos and families are under no obligation to purchase any prints. However, a
portion of the proceeds for each print sold goes back to Roycemore to help support our Financial Aid and Scholarship initiatives. Final pictures will be shared with the Roycemore community some time after Spring Break.
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Curbside Wine Drop - TOMORROW
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It’s an easy way to participate in the annual Scholarship Fundraiser. Grab a bottle of wine (at least a $10 value) and pass it along to the happy auction committee members at Morning Drop Off. There will be a team at every door awaiting your generous donations. The wine will be used in either a large-scale auction
item for an Instant Cellar or served under the Big Top for dinner the night of the Auction. In exchange for each bottle, you’ll receive an envelope with a prize. Could be the Golden Ticket - one ticket to the Auction and Scholarship Dinner on April 25th - or it could be a Roycemore sweatshirt or any number of other prizes.
Wine Drop
Wednesday, March 4th
Where: Any Roycemore School Drop Off
Location
Win: Prizes!!!
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Last week a group of Roycemore Fourth Graders, calling themselves "Battle of the Bookworms", took 2nd place at a local Battle of the Books tournament. Three schools were represented and about 35 students competed. The contest was open to students in 4th - 6th grade and these Griffins beat out their older counterparts and crushed the list of ten books that were on the reading list. Here they are with their teacher, Ms. Skinner, and Roycemore Librarian Ms. Gonzales. Congratulations Bookworms!
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Robin DiAngelo, Ph.D.
White Fragility
March 16th
7:00-8:30pm
In her 2018 New York Times bestselling book "White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism," University of Washington education professor Robin DiAngelo, Ph.D. explores the counterproductive reactions white people have when their assumptions about race are challenged. In her view, people in North America live in a social environment that protects and insulates them from race-based stress. This insulated environment of racial protection builds white expectations for racial comfort while at the same time lowering the ability to tolerate racial stress. Join her and the FAN community to hear more about this topic and steps one can take to help change the current climate of racial discussions in today's world.
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Northwestern University's
Institutional Diversity and Inclusion Department
holds a number of events each year that are designed to ensure quality of access, opportunity, representation, and participation for all.
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Northwestern University also holds a number of events throughout the year that are open to the pubic. These events range in topic and are engaging and interesting. Check out the list of events below that are taking place this winter.
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