Head of School

Message from the Head of School

Jonathan Levy, Ph.D.

Ilove sports. As a young boy I was an enthusiastic little leaguer, then played basketball throughout high school. As a parent, I have spent hundreds of hours in gyms and hockey rinks watching my kids’ teams. It’s a treat to spend time in our gym at school watching whatever team happens to be playing. Almost always, a student runs up to tell me how great it is to play and how the team is doing. To paraphrase the TanenbaumCHAT Mission Statement, we are animated by the belief that school is not just about marks but about learning. Of course, learning is a rich and multifaceted endeavour, and athletic pursuits illustrate that point perfectly. There is no question that the academic experience at TanenbaumCHAT is matched by the athletic one. When I first started working here, I was told – and then saw first hand – that students were provided with myriad opportunities to study hard and also to play hard. But what exactly makes our athletic program such a rewarding part of school life? I have watched students and coaches – all of whom are teachers who volunteer to take on this role – arrive at 6:15AM for practices, train in sometimes-brutal wintery conditions and travel great distances to compete. With about 26 competitive sports teams, including volleyball, tennis, field hockey, golf and winter sports, hundreds of our students participate. Our students benefit from first-rate coaching and improve their skills no matter their level of play. They learn to celebrate success but also not to be afraid of defeat and, when losing is inevitable, to do so graciously. Intramurals are incredibly popular and keep our gym buzzing with activity during many lunch hours. Student-planned and run, they allow anyone who is interested an opportunity to participate, exercise, meet new friends and have fun.

Playing sports is not just about scoring goals and dribbling a ball. As Yogi Berra famously said, “Baseball is 90 per cent mental and the other half is physical.” Being psychologically prepared to handle the stress of a game is good practice for life. Being part of a team, shouldering shared responsibilities and cooperating with peers are traits that will continue to serve our students well.

I am incredibly proud of our students for giving their all to their teams, and to our coaches who devote themselves to their players. Go Tigers! ◆