PARTNERING FROM WITHIN
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a village” approach to raising the children within each grade, extending support far beyond campus grounds.
A school can have a tremendously impactful parent program that simply builds on the knowledge within their community. The facts are a great starting place; if your school can swing it, go ahead and book Jonathan Haidt! But let that be the spark for a great conversation with families, considered through the lens of your school’ s unique culture and the given moment in their child’ s journey.
I want nothing more than to raise kids who are kind, curious, and hardworking. I will continue to look to the experts I find inspiring and the research and resources offered through trusted organizations. I may secretly consult ChatGPT on occasion, just to see what it says about effective chore lists for 10-year-olds, and I will certainly
“... just like with my students, the more opportunities I have to reflect on what is helpful and what isn’ t, the stronger my parenting skills will become.”
continue to make mistakes. But just like with my students, the more opportunities I have to reflect on what is helpful and what isn’ t, the stronger my parenting skills will become. Modeling my process of learning lessons this way— through conversations with my students and their parents— I believe, will foster empathy and enrich the collective school community. •
Bessie Oster, MPH is the Director of Health Education at Gilman School, an all-boys, PK-12 independent school in Baltimore, Maryland, dedicated to educating boys in mind, body, and spirit. Previously in New York City, Ms. Oster worked in the field of public health, developing and delivering identity-based wellness programming in schools and community-based organizations.
Page 16 Fall 2025 CSEE Connections