Dear Boundless Families:
Everyone arrived safely today. FYI, the weather today was a rare late June Nor-easter – almost unheard of. But the weather hastened the departure, and this was a blessing. As one teacher put it, labouring to put a positive spin on dismal conditions, “Well, it made the bus seem warm”.
Parents, it actually did. Kid warmed up fast to each other, and to the whole notion of Boundless.
We have two bursting cohorts – one English and the Outdoor Crew. lets start with English:
The English Course Director in none other than Tony Rupoli. Graduating from Western’s Faculty of Education a mere four years ago, Tony rose in our ranks faster than Caesar conquered Gaul, usurping the role of Principal, and turning Boundless into what nows feels like “Tony Town”; a city state marked by academic freedom, creativity and strong ideals regarding pasta. One would never have predicted that this lover of soccer, spaghetti and fiery dinner debate could transform into the groundhog hunting local yokel that is teaching your kids this evening.
And what is he teaching?
He has chosen an array of short stories. Two examples:
Leinegen vs. the Ants – a piece of how a plantation owner waged battle with army ants – a tale of relentless predators vs. the inventiveness of the human mind.
Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury – a head trip that sparked a generation of time-paradox novels and movies.
Upon their arrival, the English kids did a blindfold taste test that they had to wax eloquent about, a primer for honing their expressive skills.
Some of the English kids mouths are agape, thinking they have won some kind of school lottery. They sense of a curriculum that will keep them hopping, and will not induce them to vomit with apathy and their well rehearsed diffidence.
And then there is the outdoor crew, led by Owen, at once the Program Manager and grandmother of the school. He can be observed letting kids get out their ya yas with with the rejoinder, “Oh you kids go out have fun dearies, just don’t wander far!” Then he runs back in the Ranch to mend a broken tent fly or a shattered ego.
The outdoor crew have proven some meddle already. They swam in the tempest that was the weather today. In class two rapids to boot. They emerged yearning for second and third tries. You just knew that that there would be hold-outs. But the group-think changed all that. Nary a complaint. Full participation. It bodes well.
The Outdoor crew have adopted the theme of YAHOO
Y= Yahoo, lets scream!
A = Always work hard
H = have each other’s backs
O = Own your shit – take responsibility. Don’t play the victim
O = Out of your comfort zone.
For a morning that saw me resisting an urge to don a parka, its been a pretty darn great day. In English – 15 of 16 have already bought in. We predict the one fence sitter will come around. The shy ones are coming out of their shells.
In the outdoor crew, 12 of 15 have ingested the approach. The other three may take a few days – but we are optimistic.
My poignant moment of the day was at the pick up this morning in Toronto – watching one dad’s heart be filled with melancholic heaviness as his boy entered the bus – a true symbol of venturing into the unknown. The lad’s first time away. Dad’s first real chance to let go. Beautiful.
I’ll write again in a few days.
Thanks for sending your kids to Boundless
Steven
[email protected]
