In our first virtual Family Week, Concord Academy welcomed parents connecting from near and far to experience a bit of what it’s like to be a CA student. Families had opportunities to meet with advisors, college counselors, and boarding student leaders, house faculty, and administrators. They visited classes and got to know CA’s faculty, staff, and coaches better, and also gathered online with fellow parents.
A program on Monday, November 9, introduced families to the “Courageous Conversations” framework that the Community and Equity (C&E) Office has been using with students and other community members this year, as well as the programs that have been offered this fall and ongoing affinity and accountability groups at CA. Dean of Academic Program and Equity Rob Munro and Interim Dean of Faculty Laura Twichell ’01 grounded the conversation in CA’s mission and in community norms for engaging in diversity, equity, and inclusion work, while looking ahead through the lens of C&E strategic priorities.
As Veterans Day fell during this year’s Family Week activities, a special program on Wednesday, November 11, gave teachers a chance to speak to how veterans are represented in their curricula. English teacher Nancy Boutilier shared how her students have researched veterans’ family narratives. History teachers Topi Dasgupta and Ed Rafferty addressed how they have been focusing on the concepts of diversity, patriotism, and belonging. Noting that on that very day the new National Native American Veterans Memorial had just opened on the National Mall in Washington, Rafferty spoke about his approach to teaching Native American military history.
That evening, the Performing Arts Department presented an exceptional array of student works in progress. Faculty members Michael Bennett, Chris Gagne, Joelle Lury, and Meghan Jacoby from the music program; Shelley Bolman from the theater program; and Amy Spencer and the Boston Dance Theater, CA’s dance company-in-residence, shared recordings of some of the varied and engaging creative work students in the Chameleon Chamber Players, CA Singers, Advanced Jazz Ensemble, Vocal Jazz and Pop Ensemble, the Censorship in U.S. Theater class, and Ballet Workshop had been developing and rehearsing throughout the fall.
Thank you to all who participated in making this week a thoughtful examination of CA’s educational approach and a celebration of our students’ experiences!