By Ayesha Flaherty, Head of Enrollment and Communications and Parent of Current Fifth- and Eighth-Graders
When you walk around The Langley School campus, you notice almost instantly that there is something special about our students. They open doors for you and others, they approach you with confidence, they impress you with a curious question or thoughtful statement, and they smile and giggle. But what lies underneath these actions? Continue reading
By AnnMarie Rudd, Preschool Teacher at The Langley School
“What even goes on in preschool?” It’s a question I often get, not only from prospective families, but also from my closest friends and family members. It’s a question I’ve heard too many times within the past eight years of teaching preschool. And no matter how many times I hear this particular question, it always makes me stop and think, “Well, what doesn’t happen in preschool each day?” Believe it or not, our days are filled with endless possibilities as our students lead their learning in experimenting and discovering new wonders during their first year at The Langley School.
by Claire Coker ’19
While it is unfortunate we’ve had to make adjustments due to the present pandemic that include online school and modified end-of-year celebrations, I cannot express enough empathy for The Langley School’s graduating class of 2020. Continue reading
A Special Thank You During Teacher Appreciation Week
During this time of distance learning, The Langley School’s students, parents, and teachers are balancing new ways of working, learning, and interacting as they partner to bring the Langley experience to life from home. In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we salute our amazing faculty for their flexibility, creativity, and dedication as they adjust to this new method of teaching while providing our students with meaningful, engaging lessons. Continue reading
By Jessica Robinson, Grade 3 Teacher and Language Arts Co-Department Chair at The Langley School, and Parent of Three Langley Students
“All that I hope to say in books, all that I ever hope to say, is that I love the world.” -E.B. White
Reading is not a chore, an obligation, or an assignment; it is a window into our understanding of the world.
By LaToya Needham, Director of Extended Day
I hear many parents evaluating and considering what is best for their child after school between the critical hours of 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. The end of the school day hits and parents consider things like: Continue reading
Ayesha Flaherty, Head of Enrollment and Communications and Langley Parent
It’s hard to sum up a school’s curriculum in just 65 seconds, but this is a great start. Take a listen…
By Greg Bokman, Chief Financial Officer, The Langley School
Exciting news from the CFO’s desk! I’m Greg Bokman, and I joined The Langley School’s administrative team about a year ago as the CFO following four years at Washington International School and a number of years in the for-profit world.
By Chuck Schmidt, Instrumental Music Teacher and Band Director
In November, I had a moment when it really hit me how fortunate I am to be part of the music program at The Langley School. I started to write some recommendation letters for eighth-graders and updated my typical opening sentence to: “In this, my 25th year at The Langley School….” For 25 years, I have been part of a wonderful team of performing arts teachers, helping students of every age have fun making music. Because I also set up sound and lights for most of our performances, I also get to see and hear students younger than the ones I typically teach share their music in performances as well.
By Dr. Sarah Sumwalt, Director of Social and Emotional Learning at The Langley School
The term social-emotional learning (SEL) has become ubiquitous in the field of education. SEL also dominates the mainstream media, with articles peppering news sources about the role of SEL in the classroom. Just last week, the D.C. Schools chancellor, Antwan Wilson, argued that students need to feel “loved, challenged, and prepared” and shared his vision for bringing an increased focus on social-emotional learning into the District’s classrooms.
Despite the intense current interest in the topic, the term social-emotional learning is not new. In fact, it has been a widely used term since the late 1990s. Definitions of the term typically include references to intrapersonal (e.g., self-awareness and self-management) and interpersonal (e.g., social awareness and relationship skills) competence. However, there is not one agreed upon definition and many differ on exactly what skills SEL entails. Continue reading