Message from the Head

Extended Course Travel At Watershed This Spring

In a world with complex, systemic problems, we must help young people become creative problem solvers with the passion and vision to solve the challenges of the future…to work toward the common good…to listen, learn, and lead across differences..to build hope.

The Third Purpose of Independent Schools

I appreciate the clarity of this article and accept the challenge to articulate and live toward a purpose that goes beyond “advancing the interests of those who already have privilege.” Watershed is a school that was founded with just such a purpose…

Student Perspectives on the World's Great Challenges

In a culture where we hear so much about the selfishness of adolescents, I feel lucky to be at a school where young people truly care about challenges in the world around them -- and where educators support students to think deeply, practice compassion, and voice their truths.

"...To Take on the World's Greatest Challenges."

Today I want to share a few thoughts about the last phrase of our mission statement. It is a bold commitment — preparing students to take on the world’s greatest challenges — for it acknowledges both an uncomfortable truth, and a hopeful commitment.

On the Election and our Community Values

As I write today, we still do not know the outcome of this week’s presidential election. We do know that it was the highest turnout in perhaps a century — good news for our democracy. We also know that there are some deep divisions in our country, and one of the great challenges ahead is to forge common understandings — of each other, of our hopes for the future.

Wolf Pack Edition

…then we thought: maybe the students could hold a voter information session. When I went to talk with Pete (the teacher) the next morning he told me they were already planning to do that. (Of course they were — our educators are incredibly talented at making education real for our students!)