Educators often debate what actions, events and circumstances can nurture a positive school environment; one that is inclusive, collaborative and gives each member a voice. At Waring, many components of the school day contribute to a vibrant and warm community, from the established traditions such as the signing of the Waring Book at Convocation to learning a common language in French class.
One of the most unique yet regularly held gatherings on the Waring campus is the All-School Meeting (ASM), held four days a week at the end of the school day. This 30-minute check-in builds community and gives each student, faculty member and staff member a voice.
The concept of the All-School Meeting has been an integral part of Waring’s history when more than 50 years ago students and teachers would gather in the original Grande Salle in Rockport as a part of La Petite École. Co-founders Philip and Josée Waring established this meeting as a way of sharing news, building community and allowing students and teachers to discuss events both within the school and those occurring outside.
Now officially called “All-School Meeting,” this valued tradition has continued in a space that students and faculty specifically designed for this custom to carry on at the Beverly campus. Located on the second floor of the “New Building,” you will find a corner room bathed in sunlight from the floor-to-ceiling windows that bring the sky and nature right in from the outside. The All-School Meeting room is inviting with its grand piano, circular seating arrangement, presentation technology, and a cozy rug for warmth. It has all the ingredients to create an environment for collaboration and sharing.
Many elementary schools and classrooms across the country practice a similar activity for a few minutes each morning in the form of Morning Meetings or Morning Announcements. Waring, however, plans these meetings for the last half hour of the regular school day and before after-school events and activities begin. This gives students, faculty and staff a chance to connect for a solid 30 minutes where it’s more than just announcements that bring the Waring community together. These meetings often involve discussions, music, sharing, cheers, birthday songs, and even trivia competitions.
Waring’s All-School Meetings go so much further than a typical school gathering where announcements are read and reminders are communicated.
While yes, announcements are broadcast to the entire school community during these meetings, the crux of the ASM goes so much further and makes being a part of the Waring campus a unique and special experience.
Upon entering the ASM room, the first thing that becomes abundantly clear is that students and faculty mingle, chat and genuinely enjoy each other’s company with no assigned seating but rather a sense that everyone belongs. All members of the school community stop what they are doing and take this time to be together, share news, and enjoy being together.
Regularly gathering together allows for everyone to share common experiences and have a solid foundation as to what it means to be a part of Waring. During some ASMs, the group discusses important topics such as recent world events or issues impacting people in our local, state or regional neighborhoods.
At other times, ASM becomes an opportunity for students or faculty to present to the entire campus such as seniors giving their much anticipated Convocation speeches, students debuting their passion projects such as the Robotics teams working with a local elementary school, or perhaps the meeting focuses on allowing students to spotlight their talents and accomplishments.
In a recent All School Meeting, Head of School Tim Bakland introduced a whole school project called the Dona Nobis Pacem Project. This music video project gives yet another opportunity for students, faculty and staff to come together as a community as they collaborate on video in song and instrumentals using the Dona Nobis Pacem musical piece as their focus. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the initial recording of this piece by former students and faculty, thus connecting current students and alumni through their common experiences.
Students Have a Voice One of the more unique aspects of the All School Meeting that sets Waring apart from many schools is the involvement of the students in the meeting. Waring students not only have a voice in the meetings themselves but often plan and execute activities and events as a part of the meetings.
More often than not students are an integral part of the meeting if not the entire focus. Speaking in front of the entire school may seem intimidating for some, but after a while, the confidence to speak and be a part of the larger community becomes just a regular part of being a Waring student, thus giving invaluable experience in being able to present and speak effectively.
The culture of any school can be seen, heard and felt in many different ways. At Waring, one only needs to attend an All-School Meeting to sense the camaraderie, warmth and deep sense of community felt by students, parents, teachers, staff, and alumni.
