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Head's Welcome
Hello and welcome!
Ralph Waldo Emerson proclaimed “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” My enthusiasm for Sage Ridge stems from the fact that our school shares my deepest values and passions:
- developing authentic academic excellence for all learners
- creating opportunities for leadership through a wide variety of athletics, arts and activities
- fostering and supporting teaching that inspires curiosity, critical thinking, and innovation
- supporting a school culture that guides every child's development through our pillars of Scholarship, Respect, Integrity, Courage, and Community
The spirit of our mission reaches out locally and globally as our students and alumni engage in making a difference in the world. Our community spirit connects us as we work together to support a great learning environment so our students can thrive. That same spirit connects us to our wider community through service, partnerships and good will.
Building on these strong foundations is critical in preparing our students for the future. Innovations in neuroscience and advances in psychology are deepening our understanding of what works in education. Even as the skills and dispositions needed for taking on the challenges of the future shift, we are recognizing that the core is still developing intellectual character in liberal arts and sciences. This is so critical thinking and engaged citizens are honed as they become life-long learners. A Sage Ridge education sets all our students on a path to make a difference well past graduation - applying courageous scholarship with integrity and respect to contribute to their communities.
If you are new to our community or considering joining us, please explore our site and social media and then visit us to see for yourself why our community is a perfect place to learn, grow and succeed.
Enthusiastically,
Tobin S. Bechtel, Head of School
Our Mission:
Sage Ridge School graduates curious and confident citizens who embrace rigorous scholarship, respect the dignity of individuals, choose integrity, embody courage, cultivate a compassionate community, and ultimately thrive in college and in our global society.
Recent Notes from the Head
This week marks the fruition of a new tradition at Sage Ridge School, Commitment Week. Over this past week 8th grade students had a series of opportunities to learn more about the Upper School culminating with a commitment day yesterday. I am thrilled to announce that we have 22 students already committed to continuing their educational journey at Sage Ridge. We are well on our way to building the largest incoming 9th grade class ever at Sage Ridge.
While it was just past three o’clock in the morning our time, this past Wednesday the annual ceremony at the Cenotaph in London started precisely at the eleventh minute, of the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day of the eleventh month - the same time that the armistice was declared for World War One. Every year since then, the English-speaking world (as well as most European nations) has recognized the service of veterans.
As the vote count and inevitable challenges drag on, it is hard not to dwell on the state of affairs in America and how we are setting up the future for our children. On the positive side, we are seeing one of the highest turnouts for voting ever, and this is an incredibly important part of engaged citizenship. What is more disturbing is the increased partisanship. I would argue that we are dire need of statesmanship, as this is what I believe our success as nation and our standing in the world has been built on.
The time of senior stress is waxing as they grapple with their college essays and applications. I am amazed how well they are doing considering the circumstances of their schooling this year. In spite of having to adapt to distance learning and having many rites of passage changed because of the pandemic (not to mention smoke) they are not only being stalwart but also actually still smiling through it all.
We have been able to have on-campus, hybrid and distance learning at Sage Ridge for a quarter of a year now, and this is cause for celebration and gratitude. Without the dedicated energy and flexibility of our faculty, we would not be able to make this happen.
No matter our political outlook or cultural beliefs, it is critical in a democratic society to be able to disagree without being disagreeable. It is imperative that we are open-minded and able to listen without rancour and speak with passion without fear of violence.
This past week I enjoyed leading two sessions for our Parent Education Book Club. Our initial selection for first year was a thought provoking work by David Epstein entitled Range. I highly recommend this book to everyone in our community as it raises questions and provides prescient insights not only into education but also how we are prioritizing overspecialization in life.
Earlier this week I explored the idea of nurturing a growth mindset with our Grade 9 seminar students. This is a theory that has been developed and researched for over thirty years by Stanford professor, Carol Dweck...