Authentic Learning Abounds at Brimmer

In September our educators shared thoughts on this year’s theme, Authentic Learning. Bold Thinking. Compassionate Community. My thesis stated that leaning into a new adventure, working hard, and feeling the thrill of that experience is at the heart of authentic learning. I suggested that when opportunities for learning something new present themselves, your answer should be a loud and bold “yes” so your work can be real, original, true, and genuine. 

 

Indeed, as I had hoped, this fall I have witnessed the power of our students’ authentic learning. Just a week ago, in the Middle School, I experienced the seventh-grade interdisciplinary Exhibition of the Indigenous Cultures project. The English, history, art, and science faculty designed an interdisciplinary academic study of indigenous cultures. The students selected a culture, its people, and their surroundings to study; they researched and then wrote a story that reflected their findings. As a visitor to the exhibition, I could see their pride and knowledge revealed in their written products. The presentations exhibited archeological evidence of landmasses, populations and their impact, and the cultures that developed around the indigenous people. The seventh graders were eager to share their work and had plans to read their stories in their personally bound books (done with their art teacher) to the Lower School children. I was grateful for not only the depth of research and work being done on this important topic, but also for the compassion and understanding our students exhibited at the project end.

 

Likewise in our Upper School, authentic learning has also been evident. I would like to highlight just a few of those moments as well.

 

Earlier this fall, I spent time in the Makerspace where countless design concepts are born and realized. I had asked Mckinlee DePaola ‘25 to help me create something for my new grandson. As I sat alongside Mckinlee, we worked on designing an embroidery project that was to be placed on an infant-sized sweatshirt. I had no idea how complex the steps would be, but thankfully Mckinlee had some established skills.

 

While I was in the space for over an hour alongside Mckinlee, I had the opportunity to watch a variety of students think through their design projects. Some were hard at work with their heads down while others were tinkering with redesigning the use of a grocery cart. My personal “maker,” Mckinlee, not only had great ideas and could master her tool with ease, but she was also flexible in her thinking and able to adapt to different ways of designing the product. Her unflappable confidence inspired me as she pivoted from one idea to the next. We produced a one-of-a-kind sweatshirt, and I am sure there will not be another design like the one she created!

 

It is in this space that we see authentic ideas come alive and make a difference nearly every day. Graduate Avery Alperin ‘21 was featured in this fall’s issue of Brimmer Magazine for earning a U.S. patent; it was in Brimmer’s Problem Solving by Design class taught by Ms. Lee where she produced a creative solution for people with mobility challenges. Her design ultimately resulted in a U.S. patent for a walker device.

 

Similarly, this past summer Eli Lewis ‘25 designed a new tape dispenser that aids people with less skilled fine motor abilities. He too used authentic thinking to design and produce a creative device that now sits waiting for patent approval. Not only did both students use original ideas to produce patent worthy designs, but both also had a compassionate approach to where problems needed solutions.

 

While these individuals accomplished incredible success in their own work, many students in our Upper School are achieving this in group work as well.

 

Anastasiia Lobortas '26 formed a group of students to compete in an international competition called Plant the Moon. The students chose to design an experiment that uses simulated Marian soil and determine what they need to add so it grows food. Now they are producing a findings report for the Plant the Moon competition.

 

Authentic learning abounds at Brimmer! And in all three examples I have given, I was grateful to see student ideas develop using a compassionate focus for a better tomorrow. It has been fun to see real, original, true, and genuine work come to life within the halls and classrooms.

 

I hope this Thanksgiving offers all of us moments with one another when we can celebrate the satisfaction found when we can be authentic and real with those we love and admire. In those moments, I also hope your feelings of gratitude provide you with hope and fulfillment.