Seventh graders in Olivia Halverson and Megan Caulfield‘s English classes recently stepped outside their standard curriculum for a unique writing adventure. To continue welcoming MICDS’s new Head of School, Mrs. Wabrek, students traded digital communication for good old-fashioned letter writing.
The project centered on the theme of “essentials.” Beyond requiring neatness and professional detail, students were challenged to write with conviction about a topic close to their hearts. From the origins of their names and cherished family traditions to their personal passions and what adults often misunderstand about their generation, the prompts offered each student a chance to explore their stories deeply. And, for the reader, it helped Mrs. Wabrek get to know them beyond their name and grade.
To elevate the experience for students, Caulfield and Halverson selected the top few letters from each class period and invited those authors to share their work with Mrs. Wabrek over a special roundtable lunch.
“So much good conversation was had!” said Halverson. “Mrs. Wabrek shared stories about her three boys’ adventures, as well as the moves she experienced as a child and an adult, including the one that landed her at MICDS.”
The lunch discussion was a lively space for personal stories and insights.
- Emma feels like MICDS is a home that has helped raise her and shape her as a person.
- Adiya described that lower schoolers “develop,” middle schoolers “change,” and upper schoolers “progress.”
- Lauren wants to be a dermatologist when she grows up.
- Aarav is excited to be challenged at MICDS. Mrs. Wabrek complimented his vocabulary!
- Fenmore is named after his mother’s favorite actor.
- Christian came to MICDS from City Academy, and Mrs. Wabrek asked how transitioning to a larger school has been. She and other students empathized with stepping into a bigger school environment.
- Cameron talked about his passion for collecting vinyl records. Mrs. Wabrek mentioned visiting a cafe in Clayton that plays vinyl.
- Daniel talked about being from Brazil, and he and Mrs. Wabrek connected because Mrs. Wabrek’s youngest son spends one month each year training in São Paulo for Jiu Jitsu.
- Brenda shared excellent stories of growth, such as putting a cleanser on her face before reading that it must be diluted.
- Ria shared a Hindu proverb with Mrs. Wabrek that she connected with about focusing on the mark/goal you’re working to hit.
For the students, the project offered a refreshing blend of vulnerability and an immediate audience experience.
“I enjoyed writing less formally,” said Brenda H. ’32. “I could be myself about it. It was challenging because I had to think about what I could add to make myself stand out from other students, so I wrote about some unique experiences and quirks I have. I really enjoyed how Mrs. Wabrek always tried to get to know us more and cared about what we said, and she also made sure we got to know her.”
“One thing I enjoyed about the project is sharing about myself and my past while also telling Ms. Wabrek why I chose to go to this amazing school,” said Fenmore H. ’32. “The most challenging part of the project was handwriting the letter. Handwriting the letter was hard because if I mess up, I would have to start over. Something I enjoyed was having lunch with Mrs. Wabrek, learning more about her and finding connections between us that I would never have known we have.”
Mrs. Wabrek took copious notes during lunch and said she wanted to keep tapping into this group of students’ knowledge and experiences by meeting again later in the year. “Their reflections have given me an extraordinary window into how students experience this school and what they believe makes it special,” said Wabrek. “One student wrote, ‘They say it takes a village, but I have something better: MICDS.’ That has certainly been my lived experience during my first few months, and I am so grateful to these students for taking the time to share their experiences with such remarkable thoughtfulness, honesty, and generosity. What a privilege to see MICDS through their eyes.”
Thank you to our seventh graders for digging deep into their own stories to share these essential details with classmates and for welcoming Mrs. Wabrek so warmly!
