Without Being Asked
Thank you to all the families who joined us for Parents Day earlier this week. What joy to have so many parents attending classes with their children and getting an up-close look at life at BUA. I heard from quite a few parents about how taken they were by the care and passion of the teachers and the engagement of the students around the table. I also heard from more than one who said they wished that they could turn back the clock and attend themselves!
The following morning, I was helping a colleague collect the extra chairs we had distributed to all the classrooms to accommodate our visitors. It was early – around 7:45 before most students had arrived for the day. As we made our way along the first-floor corridor, a new ninth grader who was doing homework at a table outside the athletics office noticed what we were up to. Without a word, she capped her highlighter, got up from her reading, popped into a classroom, and started folding chairs. I didn’t ask; she just saw the need and got to it.
In what has been a strong start to the year, this was one of my favorite moments: a young person helping without being asked. It says a lot about her character and, no doubt, about the way she was raised. It is also the type of small act that builds schoolwide culture. Small acts of kindness are contagious; others notice and are inspired to do the same. Thank you to this student for her example and to all of our students who help without being asked every day. It matters.