Day 3 and already I am enjoying saying hello in the hallways to the familiar faces of students and teachers. The faculty and students here at Lauder couldn’t be nicer. They come to the room they set up for our use each morning to greet us and replenish the sweet pastries they graciously provide. Nikol, one of Kinga’s 9th grade students made the best chocolate cookies just to welcome us. How thoughtful is that. They are delish!
Today I met with Peter, my partner teacher, a parent, and two other teachers who are interested in creating a Maker Space for Lauder. Before today, I tried to beg off from the meeting assuring Peter that I was not the expert in this arena. But my generous and supportive colleagues, Camille who provided me with all kinds of information about our Startup Incubator before I left, Alli who leads prospective parents on tours through the Incubator, and Paula who has already collaborated with the Incubator for a variety of projects in her science classes, attended the meeting with me to share their experiences and knowledge. Their situation reminds me of our own beginnings: a vitally interested parent, who has been hosting Hackathons on campus with interested students and who also has business connections in the community, has a dream to create a space for students to connect and realize entrepreneurial goals, and teachers, who see the future, want to make sure their students have the best access to what they will need-skills of collaboration, problem-solving, critical thinking, and flexibility. Of course, Lauder must contend with the National Curriculum, which adds a layer of complexity to their initiative. Ultimately, I suggested that they pose a driving question to the stakeholders in their community: students, teachers, and parents and allow them to participate in the problem solving of this initiative.
This meeting and the rest of the day filled with opportunities to see my colleagues in action and to participate in classes with them remind me of what I love most about education: the spirit of teamwork. We are stronger together. Each day, my colleagues and I have found ways and have created opportunities to support one another in planning a lesson or helping in a class: Paula sings with students in David’s classes to help them feel less shy; Inbar shares a lesson with me; I share my version with her; we team teach our Judaics and English classes; Alli and Paula lend their expertise in my STEAM meeting; Paula documents our trip through photos and videos; Ben visits classes and lends support in each; Maria observes the “free range” life of the lower school students and shares her dreams with us. And each of us enjoys working with our partner colleagues and remark each day on their warm hospitality and desire to help us have a meaningful experience with the students. Meanwhile, Alan and Glynis-ever sensitive-arrange for Alli to meet a director of advancement at another school and connect us to a variety of teachers and administrators on campus to help us have a full experience, all while arranging tours with Agi, the best tour guide, to help us understand the culture and history of the Lauder community in Budapest. Stronger together.
