SHARING OUR EXPERTISE

The Crescent Centre for Boys’ Education: Discovering How Boys Learn Best

2020-2021 CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

AISL April 2021: Y’all Means All: Promoting Social Justice in Your Library

Lisa Elchuk, in collaboration with three other AISL librarians from elementary, middle, and high schools, presented favourite social justice books, websites, documentaries, podcasts, booksellers, social media hashtags, and more. As part of AISL’s Growing As Champions Of Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In Our School Libraries workshop, the presentation focussed on the concept of windows, mirrors and sliding glass doors to ensure students see themselves and others in literature. It builds upon the importance of asking students what they want, as well as sharing resource lists and LibGuides (curated library resource pages) for topics like Social-Emotional Learning, Black Excellence, Pride/LGBTQ2+, and Asian Heritage and Awareness.

ISBC May 2021: Global Youth Online Forum on Racial Equity in Boys’ Education: Values, Identity, and Access

This forum solicited experiences with diversity at boys’ schools and proposed solutions to increase belonging and diversity. Crescent was the only Canadian school and shared insights with boys from the U.K., South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. Kayvan Movahedi, Jack Hetherington, Xaivian Lee, Runo Ajise, and Ken Cheng, accompanied by Jonathan Arendt represented the Crescent experience. Students from Lower through Upper School were divided into groups of about 20 students each for discussions led by the Aspen Research Institute, who collected the data for a later report. They were the only adults who were allowed to speak – the rest of the adults could listen but had to have cameras off and speakers muted – to highlight the student experiences. The boys shared their thoughts on how content-driven schools can make students of colour feel isolated and separate from their reality. They spoke of their experiences with bullying and racism from other students, ranging from the overt to the more subtle. They also highlighted the importance of having spaces where they could gather with other students who identified with their in-group, in a place and time apart from the rest of the student body. Having teachers and adults in the building was also important for students to feel supported. This small pilot gathering provided some beginning ideas and concerns for more auspicious, broader identification of issues that exist in boys’ schools that create atmospheres of exclusion and intolerance, working against belonging. The plan going forward is to take the salient findings and use them to create a more expansive approach, based on student voices, in bringing about changes to our communities.

Multiple Contributions February, April, May 2021:

Greg Ryerson seized several opportunities to present his knowledge and passion in the realm of science and coding over the course of this year. He has integrated this passion into his Grade 7 science curriculum with so many positive outcomes.

IBSC June 2021: Creating a Professional Competency Model to Transform School Culture

For boys to thrive and connect, teachers and leaders need the professional competencies to go on the learning journey with–and for–them. Lara Koretsky led an interactive workshop that explored explored why competencies such as emotional intelligence, growth mindset, and courageous communication are important, and suggested the best ways to create a robust competency model for staff and school leaders in 21st-century schools for boys.

IBSC June 2021: Panel Discussion: Future-Ready Boys’ Schools: IBSC Research and Innovation

Sandra Boyes joined her IBSC colleagues on the IBSC Research Committee to discuss hot topics in the five domains of research identified as important for future study, including pedagogy, curriculum, character and well-being, school processes and leadership, and culture and teacher formation.

IBSC June 2021: Panel Discussion: Shared stories from our schools

Michael Fellin led this discussion along with Upper School teacher Jonathan Arendt and two other IBSC colleagues. They shared insights and reflections from keynote speaker Jon Meachem. Meachem challenged the IBSC community to examine ways to create a culture of social justice and the competencies we should promote in nurturing our boys.

IBSC June 2021: Panel Discussion: Schools of Character Session

Becoming a Strong 21st Century School of Character Michael Fellin contributed to this discussion that shared wisdom and experience of schools’ continuing journeys in becoming successful 21st century schools of character. Their progress evolves in tandem with the Character Education in Schools for Boys 2019 research supported by CIRCLE. Focus on strategies for implementing a holistic framework for character education was a highlighted feature of this discussion. Dr. Phillip Cummins from CIRCLE is also a member of the CCBE Advisory Panel.

PUBLICATIONS AND PODCASTS

Independent Teacher, the magazine of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)’s Spring 2021 issue EQ vs IQ featured an article submitted by Patricia Alviano and Lara Koretsky on the impact of executive coaching.

Crescent Considers: This research opportunity encourages faculty members to read and reflect on various topics within the realms of teaching and learning. The weekly reflection supported individuals’ interests, courses, and professional reading in developing the capacity to be intentionally engaged in professional growth.

WELLRead: The launch of the CCBE’s podcast, WELLRead, in February 2021 put us on the global stage as we shared insights about teaching and learning at a boys’ school.

VoicEd Radio: Dr. Sandra Boyes and Trish Cislak joined Stephen Hurley on VoicED Radio in December of 2020 to share how the CCBE is promoting a research culture at Crescent. The idea for teachers to use evidence-informed practices to examine and improve their teaching is just one realm of the vision of the CCBE.