Elevate with Spark! @ Catlin Gabel Rob van Nood

With the approach of Homecoming, Catlin Gabel is transitioning back to the sporting events that are so special to our community. Part of that transition is the new team that is leading the CGS Athletic Program.  Rob and Matt sat down with Athletics Director, Kate Williams, and Associate Director of Athletics, Da’Mon Perry, to chat about their experiences, their beliefs about health and fitness,  and their vision for athletics.  Please enjoy this first episode of Elevate’s 4th season.

Every year we pick a theme to help shape the focus of our conversations.  And this year we have chosen one that seems to fit the world we are living in: transitions.

We hope you can join us every other week as we explore this theme through the stories, projects, and ideas from throughout the community


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As this year of remote and socially distanced learning comes to an end we wanted to talk with students about the types of experiences or learning environments they think the school should consider holding on to in the future.  In this two sectioned episode Rob spoke with Lower School students Aayush, Ellery, Peter, Everly, and Diarra as well as Middle School students Tyler, Maya, Abby, Erin, Annika, Ella, and Erik to find out what it was like to work out in tents in the cold, how the cohorts worked out, how remote learning changed them and what they are looking forward to when we start in person next year.  Please enjoy this final episode to Elevate’s 3rd season where we get the last glimpse into the student experience of a very “interesting” year.   



And for some bonus summer listening check out what the student's created in Matt's Upper School Podcasting Class:  https://anchor.fm/cgspodcastingclass


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Following our previous podcast where AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) students shared their stories, Rob joined Upper School and Middle School teachers Kenny Nguyen, Beining Hu, Traci Kiyama, and Michele Hoang for a wide-ranging conversation about the experience of being Asian at Catlin Gabel and at this point in history.  With thoughtfulness and passion, they discuss the impact of "model minority" biases, discrimination, and how it feels to speak up for their personal identities.  They explore Buddhism and the misuse of the word Zen. And they shared their ideas on how the school could better provide equity for all employees, students, and families.  Please enjoy this penultimate podcast of the 2020-21 school year.     



To learn more about Catlin Gabel’s recent update on steps taken toward anti-racism, read the school’s update from June 2nd: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1622642143/catlingabel/pmumzxaxrgapskptq8z1/Catlin-Gabel-Steps-Toward-Racial-Justice-Antiracism-Update-1JUN21-1328.pdf



To answer questions or get more information about the topics covered in our antiracism-focused podcasts or the antiracism work that is happening at the school please email info@catlin.edu


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As part of our year-long exploration of anti-racism work here at Catlin Gabel, Matt and Rob sat down with three Upper School students and two Upper School faculty who identify as Asian or South Asian.  Math teacher Traci Kiyama and English teacher Krystal Wu co-host a conversation with Issa, Zia, and Nayan to explore their identities and experiences at Catlin Gabel as well as in their home communities.  They talk about culture, language, the word Asian, and what it means to fit in.  Join in on this insightful conversation.  



Explore some of the media that these students and teachers are watching and reading as referenced in the podcast :

Movies:  The Farewell & The Half of It 

TV:  Never Have I Ever

Books: Minor Feelings,  Good Talk & My Grandmother's Hands




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When Damien Geter took a leave of absence as the Upper School Music Teacher in June of 2019 to pursue an opportunity at the Metropolitan Opera in New York he never thought that his singing and composition life would take a major leap forward.  But in the two years since he last taught at Catlin Gabel, and following the murder of George Floyd, Brianna Taylor, and Amaud Aubrey, he has become a highly sought-after composer and singer whose works "infuse classical music with various styles from the black diaspora to create music that furthers the cause for social justice."  Matt and Rob had a chance to sit down with Damien to discuss some of the work he has been doing since he chose to step away from teaching, how he develops his compositions, his thoughts about teaching, his musical influences, and what it takes to "play the game" as a BIPOC artist.

For more about Damien and his work check out his website: www.damiengetermusic.com or his Instagram account: www.instagram.com/dgeter/ 


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Teaching and learning in a pandemic has forced all of us out of our comfort zones and required us to be in a constant state of re-invention.   Jodie Ricci knew a lot about living in that ambiguity even before Covid-19.  As the Performing Arts Chair at Hawken School in Cleveland, a coach with Project Zero, a curriculum trainer, and a practitioner of Agency by Design research she has always been eager to disrupt traditional narratives of creativity to make the world a better place. When she shared her approach with Catlin Gabel faculty at a Forum sponsored event in February Rob and Matt knew they wanted to hear more about what she has been thinking about and doing to help move her school forward.

In this episode of Elevate Rob, Matt and Jodie explore activating student voice, sharing curriculum design with students, asking big questions, the importance of play and the arts,  and all the things we want to hold on to as schools consider life in a pandemic-changed-world.  



Jodie Ricci's Website:  https://seedframework.com

Project Zero Thinking Routines:  https://pz.harvard.edu/thinking-routines

She Leads Edu: http://www.sheleadsedu.com/

Jodie is reading Work Won't Love You Back by Sarah Jaffe and Taking Beautiful Risks by Ron Beghetto


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