Vol. 10, No. 8 Tappahannock, Virginia, March 2008

Dear St. Margaret's friends and families,

One of the things I love best about living in a school community is that every day life is touched by members of every generation and every generation experiences life a little differently. This month, Neil Howe, co-author with William Strauss of Millennials Rising, led the heads of Virginia independent schools through a consideration of just what this means to our work.

Do you have a millennial in your life? Chances are you do! These are our current young professionals and students born after 1982. All of our current St. Margaret’s girls fall into the Millennial Generation, as do some of their youngest teachers, coaches, and dormitory counselors. Whether you are a member of the Silent Generation (born 1925-42), the Baby Boomers (born 1943-60), or the Gen Xers (born 1961-81), these young people are quickly moving into positions of influence in your life. So what do we know about them?

According to Howe, millennials are an exciting generation! Just as each of us can fairly confidently say that we do not see our lives or the world in exactly the same way as our mothers or grandmothers did, these young people are stating values and making choices that might seem surprising to their Boomer or Gen Xer parents. Howe describes them as confident, team-oriented, sheltered, conventional, pressured, and achieving. They want to make positive changes in their communities. They have life plans and they set goals, knowing that achieving them depends on their own hard work.

What does this mean for schools? Capitalizing on their optimism and motivation, we must teach leadership and team-building skills, provide them with safe environments in which to try out these new skills, teach them within a core curriculum with specific mastery goals accessible to each student and then celebrate their successes, and always focus on long-term life planning over short-term opportunities. Does this sound like St. Margaret’s School today? I’m pleased to report that it does. In the last 20 years, as we have put in place the parts of our mission to educate young women for life, these are the ideas that have dominated our planning. I love knowing that this newest generation cares so deeply and is coupling their passion with action. What more could we ask for the future of our country and our schools? Get ready to join us in cheering on the millennials!

Sincerely,
Margaret R. Broad,
Head of School



 

Minimester 2008: -
Inspiration through exploration.....

Save the Date for Spring Family Weekend: -
Come celebrate our spring traditions.......

Study Shows High Satisfaction in Girls’ Schools: -
Retention is a hallmark.......

SMS Goes West During Minimester: -
Excerpts from the California Road Rules blog.......

Golden Thistles Gather in Richmond -
Golden Thistles meet at Westminster-Canterbury .......

THE CURRENT

Reminders from the Admission Office: April 10 Re-enrollment agreements due in the Admission Office. Your deposit and signed contract must be in before your daughter can choose a room/roommate or be considered for leadership positions. For more information call the Admission Office 804-443-3357

Who? All students and the English department faculty and staff What? All school field trip to a performance of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare When? Thursday, April 10th Where? Blackfriars Theater in Staunton, VA In addition to studying a play by Shakespeare in each level of English, students attend performances at the Blackfriars Theater in Staunton whenever possible. Architecturally, this theater is a reproduction of Shakespeare’s Blackfriars in London, giving students an authentic Elizabethan theater experience: the play is performed with the house lights up, pre-show and intermission activities replicate those in Shakespeare’s world, and theater-goers have options for seating comparable to those of Londoners of the 16th and 17th centuries—on stage. These techniques allow 21st century Shakespeare fans to use their brains in a different way to appreciate the play.

March 30-31 Admission Office overnight visit. Prospective parents, contact the Admission Office for an invitation. Current parents, let us know if there is someone we should invite. Contact us today: (804) 443-3357 admit@sms.org

Pack up the car, Bring the family, And come home to St. Margaret's. Join Us for Reunion Friday 6 to Sunday 8 June, 2008 Watch your mailbox for more info! Questions? contact Director of Alumnae Relations Mavora Donoghue at 804-443-3357 x3014 or mdonoghu@sms.org