BY CAROL GRANT-WATT HEAD OF SCHOOL
On those wonderful occasions when we proudly welcome our alumni back to campus, the conversation inevitably turns to what aspects of their Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (STS) experience they most remember years later.
The most common responses? A teacher, an activity, a lesson that engaged them on a human level. While some anecdotes are related to a notable event, such as an Outdoor Education trip or a championship game, many emerge from what would otherwise appear to be an ordinary day at STS. Why do these memories stand out when viewed in the context of a student’s entire educational journey?
For me, the answer is simple — there are no ordinary days at STS, just as there are no inconsequential moments that aren’t pivotal to a student’s learning. The shared element is this: these moments helped inspire a student’s passion, connected that passion with a sense of purpose, and captured the instant the young person discovered their path.
Within each split second, a child has the potential to discover their passion and purpose, and it is our collective responsibility as educators, parents, and alumni to ensure these values are nurtured and given room for expression. Our role is not just to prepare the child for the path but to guide and support them in discovering their own unique journey.
‘Prepare the child for the path, not the path for the child.’
These words hang on my office wall and echo through my mind as I perform my daily ‘Hoosier Walk.’ Named in honour of the classic Gene Hackman film, I began this tradition early in my professional journey and embraced it throughout my career. I navigate our hallways, visit our classrooms, chat with students and teachers, provide updates and receive feedback, explore our trails, pay my respects at the Forever Woods memorial, and pitch in to keep our campus clean and beautiful.
These walks allow me to observe and guide the school’s ongoing operations. Still, they bless me with something even greater — a sense of perspective, an opportunity for self-reflection, and a reminder of why I chose to pursue a career in education.
There is something special about schools, particularly at STS: a heartbeat, a synergy created by passionate people connecting around a common purpose. As teachers and administrators, our passion and purpose lie in preparing young people for a lifetime of learning and success. The path we envision is a metaphor for the future, similar to the trails surrounding our campus.
Imagine we are walking down a forest path. Some steps we take are small, while others feel enormous. We are faced with obstacles and unexpected setbacks, but we choose to continue. Every step is important because it brings us closer to our goals and purpose.
Passion is the spark of motivation that has brought us here. It carries us down the trail and grants us the courage and determination to see where it will lead. Just as passion can be overlooked when not directed towards a purpose, a purpose requires passion to be realized. Both are vital to a student’s success in school and life.
Purpose asks, ‘What would you like to do?’ Passion asks, ‘What do you care about?’
For these reasons, we have chosen passion and purpose as the themes for the 2024 edition of Optimum magazine.
Passion and purpose — I envision STS as the ampersand linking the two, with so many avenues to give our students the opportunity to pursue both. Our deeply engaging and rigorous academic framework, through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme, innately instills a passion for learning, curiosity, and drive to do one’s best. Exploring the globe through outdoor education and international travel expands our students’ perspectives. Our Kindergarten to Grade 12 STEAM programming introduces kids to technology, design, creative problem solving, trades, engineering, and more, giving them the skills to thrive in the digital age. Our robust arts offerings create conditions for students of all ages to explore their creativity and discover new talents and interests. Through our new hybrid program, STAND, students can access an exceptional and flexible education, allowing them to pursue their interests in a setting and structure that works best for them. Foundationally, our core focus on living a life of purpose through the very mission of our school instills in each of us a deep sense of purpose and drive to be good humans and give back to the world.
The future is evolving faster than ever before. As educators, we cannot guarantee that the path can be altered to accommodate a student’s needs, but we can ensure that they are provided with everything they need to navigate its twists and turns safely and reach their goals. This commitment is at the core of our educational approach at STS.