Educator Insights

Dear Middle School Families,

Sometimes I imagine setting up a lifeguard stand right outside my office, strategically placed where two hallways meet—the epicenter of middle school traffic. Picture it: me with a red whistle in hand, ready to shout commands like ‘No running in the halls!’ or ‘Slow down, please!’ It’s a whimsical nod to my own childhood, when my friends and I were the ones being scolded for dashing around the local pool and totally unaware of anything outside of our little world. Life has a funny way of flipping the script, doesn’t it?

Some places, such as my community pool, might frown upon twirling around corners, skipping from one spot to another, or breaking into a little song and dance when you see a friend across the way. But not here on the Castle Creek campus. These joyful moments are what make our school feel so alive.

There’s a little bench built into the wall outside my office, and while I’m pretty sure the architect never thought it would become a makeshift stage for skateboard-like moves, our students have found a way to make it their own. The stairwell railings? Let’s just say it’s become prime real estate for impromptu slides, much to my daily reminders! And while you’ll often hear a gentle “Walk, please!” or “Hands to yourself!” echo through the hallways, these are the moments we cherish. The hugs, high-fives, skips, spins, slides, and spontaneous laughter remind us of something important: we get to work with kids.

Our middle school students are in the wonderful, messy process of growing up—learning to navigate the world, but still full of that magical, playful energy that makes childhood so extraordinary. It’s a joy to watch them. Whether it’s four friends walking shoulder-to-shoulder down the hallway, making it nearly impossible to pass, or a group bursting into giggles over something silly, this is what a happy, connected community looks like. And it’s not just the kids—it’s the teachers and staff who help create this environment. The love, care, and encouragement our faculty pour into each day make this school a place where kids can be themselves, take risks, and thrive.

As winter break approaches, I hope you’ll join me in encouraging our students to just be kids. They’ve worked hard this semester—learning, growing, and showing so much maturity. Now it’s time to let them slow down a bit. Let them color, sing, play, and imagine. Let them build a fort, throw snowballs, invent a new game, or stay in pajamas all day. Let them do the things that make childhood sweet and memorable. We all know how quickly these years go by, and how the pressures of growing up sometimes creep in far too soon.

So, this holiday season, let’s make space for rest, play, and connection—for our kids and ourselves. From all of us here at Aspen Country Day Middle School, happy holidays to your family. And if we happen to see you skipping or twirling alongside your kids, no judgment here. In fact, we’d probably join you. Here’s to keeping the joy alive in all of us.

With gratitude,

-Mark Bosick

When interviewing candidates for faculty or staff positions at Aspen Country Day School, I always provide space for the applicant to pose questions to the hiring committee. When a candidate posed a question to the team last week, their question resonated with me. At risk of misquoting, their query paraphrased was, How would the following three constituencies voice their feelings about ACDS? A young student, an older student, and a faculty member.

The astute hiring committee paused, and then dove right in. While the contributions varied, common threads included a supportive, cohesive community and students who are “seen and known.” While the array of responses left me feeling uplifted about the learning journey that is an ACDS education, the part about being “known” as a student really hit me. Upon reflection, I can state with confidence that this idea of truly knowing our students is central to our work at ACDS and perhaps a main ingredient in our secret sauce.

Social psychologist at Brown University, Gregory Elliott, describes “mattering” as do people have an interest in you and what you have to say? As the applicant listened to the hiring committee describe how students at ACDS are valued and known, I hope they came away with an understanding that at Aspen Country Day, all students matter. In her important work, Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic, Jennifer Wallace states, “The more we feel valued, the more likely we are to add value, and the other way around – a virtuous cycle of interdependence that continuously feeds our sense of mattering.” She adds that we learn our value, how we matter, by our caregivers at home and in the community. At ACDS, our students learn that they are truly known, and each has value as a part of our educational community.

What does mattering look like in the Lower School at Aspen Country Day? On the surface, students know they matter because they are named. Each child is greeted daily at the front door by me, Cec, Allie, and at times Sara and MJ. The students are high-fived, hugged, and warmly embraced by our team as they start their day. Once in their classroom, students are engaged authentically with classroom responsibilities and are charged with having agency in their learning environment. This might involve routines such as keeping an academic planner, or “jobs” like straightening up the snow boots after recess. Students are heard in the classroom and teachers give voice to learners. Projects involving choice and expression of student interests are found throughout our grades. At ACDS, the students matter.

As you consider the value of your investment in Aspen Country Day School, I encourage you to consider the applicant’s question, How would a student voice their feelings about ACDS? Your student may not share it in the same way, but if you truly listen to their response, I hope you will hear that they matter to those around them.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season with those you love. Thank you for trusting the ACDS team to guide your children. Please know that we value your child’s presence at ACDS and we look forward to seeing their smile once again in 2025.

In partnership, 

Adam