New+Building

//We are on schedule to move into the new building for the start of the 2010-2011 school year! This reality brings up many issues. Some of these considerations are noted below. Feel free to add your own for our consideration as a faculty!//

When we move into the new Upper School, **what behaviors would we like to inculcate into our students so as to make them meaningful traditions in their lives?** We will be present at the creation, so this is an excellent time to make a new beginning. For example, **what responsibilities might we create for 9th graders to balance the privileges they enjoy? What jobs will be created for 7th and 8th graders? Who will oversee this?**

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 * I think it is important to create, from the onset, a feeling of respect for GCDS, one another, and for the building itself. One thing I noticed when I came here was the physical horsing around, running, pushing one another etc. I think it has gotten better (or maybe I have gotten more used to it) but it needs to be addressed. One thing I have noticed when visiting schools is a feeling of “calm” and of “seriousness of purpose.”

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 * To help with this we also need to create a feeling of seriousness as people enter. At other schools there is a receptionist who is very welcoming, who introduces herself and asks those entering the school to sign in with a time, destination and a space to write the time they leave.

I have not thought about balancing 9th grade privileges yet nor the jobs for 7th and 8th graders. Before we go there for 7th and 8th graders we really have to follow through on the jobs they have now. I fear that many of them are not doing their jobs or in my case, where they have to sign in, they have signed in and not done the job. I have had to speak with two people this year about doing this. -DA

What kind of **orientation** to the new space should we plan for the students? What is the optimum **timing** for this?