A Winning Team

 The following remarks were delivered during our Middle and Upper School Open House event.

 

With the Head of the Charles on our minds, I thought it would be a good opportunity to open with a regatta metaphor, one that may help tell the Brimmer story. As you likely know, crew is a team sport, and the size of the team depends on the size of the boat. Much like Brimmer, the boats are small, and it’s the whole of a team’s effort that makes the individual feel the power of being part of a winning team.

 

I learned the power of being on a crew team in 1976 when my cousin Gail Ricketson rowed for the U.S. Women’s team, the debut event for women’s crew. I was a teenager then, and the excitement to see her compete for the U.S. as a female rower electrified my family. The politics of the time involved an African boycott with 22 countries refusing to compete. But the young people were focused on what young people do best. They transcended the conflict and came to Canada to compete and have fun.

 

As you know if you have watched a regatta, teams can often pull ahead or fall behind within a blink of the eye. On that cool summer day in Montreal, the U.S. women’s 8 was far ahead in the Olympics final race, clearly boat lengths ahead of the others, and destined to take the gold.

 

Then suddenly her shell came to a near stop. The seat in front of my cousin broke, causing her to drop her oar, and the boat nearly capsized. Impressively, the team steadied themselves, reengaged, and crossed the finish line in third place. Gail came home with the bronze medal.

 

This moment in the Olympic event is similar to the life of most young people. While few can experience what it means to be an athlete at the Olympic level, all young people want to have unconditional support, people on the sidelines cheering them on, teachers helping them move past a plateau, and adults and friends steadying a critical moment so they can cross the finish line.

 

With that metaphor in mind, I’d like to share what it means to be part of Brimmer’s winning team.

 

We are a school that prides itself in its ability to be self-reflective, that believes in the strength of teamwork, and knows that growth and change is part of the journey. These strengths served us well during the height of the pandemic, one of the greatest destabilizing moments in this century. Much like Gail’s boat in 1976, the pandemic did not drop our oars for long. We mobilized our skill sets and worked together to cross the finish line for our students.

 

Knowing what defines the finish line for the leaders and educators at Brimmer is clear. Five years ago, our strategic plan steered us towards fulfilling our goal of meeting higher level STEAM courses, a perfect size for our Middle School, and deliberate growth in our Upper School, now graduating 45 students each year.

 

This is an exciting time to be at Brimmer as we center our attention on the recreation, health, and wellness strategic direction for today’s student. We have recently embarked on several new programs and initiatives since launching Strategic Priorities 2020 & Beyond in the spring of 2020. One of the most exciting accomplishments was receiving the largest gift in Brimmer’s history for faculty salaries, which has given us a competitive edge for hiring the area’s top talent.

 

Our new Athletic Director is leading the way with a strategic vision for athletics. We debuted our new women’s volleyball program this year, have established a new partnership with Newton’s new YMCA basketball courts, and we continue to enjoy our partnerships with UMASS/Mt. Ida.

 

My hope for you during your visit is to learn how our students spend their days. Witness the culture of support at Brimmer to help our students succeed in many ways. Ask about our Library Learning Commons, the Advisor Program, and our Gator-Aides.

 

We have a deep commitment to strengthen our collective focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Ask about our various clubs and community offerings and how Brimmer students see themselves reflected in the curriculum.

 

And we have a keen focus on health and wellness. Our students can tell you about the group team building programs, our partnerships with various consultants, and the availability of our faculty.

Like the coxswain who is responsible for steering the boat and coordinating the power and rhythm of the rowers, our administrators lead knowing the value of student voice. To develop this voice, Brimmer places a strong emphasis on student leadership, effective research and writing, and student journalism. Be sure to ask about our Senate, and visit The Gator, our student news site.

Finally, be sure to ask students about their experiences with peer tutors, presentations, exhibitions, thesis defenses, and opportunities for them to share their work with others.

We hope you feel the power of being part of Brimmer’s winning team.