Monday 28 January 2019

Head's Up - Your Monthly Update From The Headmaster
Dear Rundle Community:

It is hard to believe that we are at the midway point of the school year!  

This year we have seen extraordinary acts that exemplify our values: “Together: Be Kind, Be Curious, Be Well.”  In particular, I would like to thank our collective community for the support they have provided to those in need over the holiday season.  

In this month’s ‘Head’s Up’ I thought I might take an opportunity to look back and forward through some inspiring themes that have shone through in conversations we have had with our alumni over the past couple weeks.

Together,

Jason B. Rogers
Table of Contents:
I.      The Narrative – Part IV – “What I Learned at Rundle: Conversations with Alumni.”
II.     Summer Camps 
III.   Re-Registration Information
IV.   Good News Notes
V.     On The Shelf
I. The Narrative - Part IV - "What I Learned at Rundle: Conversations with Alumni"

Over the course of the last month, I have joined several other Rundle leaders in the opportunity to connect with our alumni in a variety of events and places. Since the middle of December, we have hosted a homecoming event here in Calgary, travelled to the University of British Columbia, spoke to alumni at the University of Calgary and had an alumni dinner in Kelowna at the University of British Columbia - Okanagan. The alumni stories and connections have been universally inspiring and heartwarming.

If it were possible to take these moments and distill them into three Rundle truths, here’s what I believe they would be.

 
Truth #1: ‘Together’ is not just a value at Rundle; it is a way of life.

Have you ever had a friend that you have not seen for a decade, and then you sit down with them and it feels like you have only spent days apart? I have witnessed this phenomenon take place countless times as our alumni come together. It is almost as though there is an invisible bond between alumni that allow them to start right where they left off… even if they left off many years ago. This has been the experience between alumni at each of the events we have hosted. This immediate and deep kinship is demonstrated through quick conversation, laughs and shared experiences. What is probably even more remarkable is that this instance does not just happen between classmates, it takes place across graduation years and friendship groups. We see the alumni network coming together to share experiences from their time at Rundle, share life successes and challenges, and share professional network opportunities.
 
Truth #2: Our alumni’s grades… are the least impressive thing about them.

One of the most fascinating things about chatting with our alumni is their response to the question, “What are you up to these days?”  Now, it would be easy for them to respond with “I practice law,” or “I am in my 3rd year of engineering,” or “I am currently performing in …,” but rarely is this the case. More often than not, the conversation about what they are up to gravitates to one of a couple topics: their family or giving back to our community. It is wonderful to hear that as our graduates move from our hallways into the real world, they take with them the elements of character that Rundle aspires to expose them to. Our alumni are giving back to their communities through service and knowledge sharing. In particular, I would like to thank our alumni for giving back to the many programs at Rundle that rely on their support. Without these acts of kindness, we would not be able to offer the multiple opportunities we do!
 
Truth #3: Teachers are the heart of Rundle.

As a teacher, there is no greater gift than to hear a former student say, “You made a difference in my life.”  At these alumni events, it is a clear theme that the teachers at Rundle are appreciated and loved by their former students. It is so common to see big hugs, laughs, and even tears of joy as alumni and teachers recount past experiences in the classroom. So often, you hear the statement, “Thank you - I can’t believe how prepared I was for university and the real world.” 

Thank you to our wonderful network of 1000+ alumni who continue to show us what it means to be ‘successful’ in our  world. This accomplished group reminds us that by continuing to come together we are able to celebrate the finest thing in life - connection.  

For those parents and students who are not yet a part of our alumni network, I can hardly wait to share this experience with you as you graduate from our program and go on to make a positive impact on our world.
II.  c.Lab Summer Camps

We are excited to offer another season of summer camps in 2019! Ms. Adolphe and the c.Lab/Jr. Cobras team will be opening registration for their SPORT & STEAM camps in early February.

Watch your email for the complete camp schedule including an early registration discount. It will be wonderful to see our students engaged in activities that stimulate their mind and exercise their bodies!
III.  Registration

Thank you to all parents who have already completed the reregistration process. If you have yet to let us know your intentions for the 2019-2020 school year, please do so prior to February 1st by following this link.
IV.  Good News Notes

Prior to the Christmas break, Ms. Corbett and some students from Rundle’s Conklin School signed up to volunteer for Toy Mountain at Salvation Army. When they arrived to organize the gifts for families in need, they were turned away, as the Salvation Army had run out of gifts and were not going to be able to meet all the requests they had received. 

What happened next is nothing short of amazing; in fact, it is a little bit of a Christmas miracle.

Ms. Corbett wrote a short email to the families of the kids who were going to volunteer and told them she was having to cancel the experience. From there, Rundle’s families and students stepped up and quietly demonstrated what it means to ‘Be kinder than necessary.” From here, I’ll let the pictures do the talking and simply say thank you to everybody in our community who made Christmas magical for so many in need in our city.
V. On The Shelf
 
Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Dark Horse by Todd Rose and Ogi Ogas