To The Editor,
This summer, I attended a district meeting. While I am currently a parent of twin 8th graders at Maplewood Middle School, I mistakenly introduced myself as a Seth Boyden parent. After the meeting, I realized my mistake and mentioned it to another Seth Boyden parent. Her comment back to me was very profound. She said, “once a Seth Boyden parent, always a Seth Boyden parent.” I couldn’t agree more with that statement.
I moved to Maplewood 8 years ago with my then 5-year-old twins. Although my home was in a neighborhood zoned for another, highly regarded elementary school, I toured and chose Seth Boyden. It wasn’t that I was moving away from a decision about my zoned elementary school; it was a decision to move towards something.
When I look back on my children’s five years at Seth Boyden, I’m confident I made the right decision. My children experienced a curriculum that was challenging and creative. The teachers always strived to provide experiences that incorporated unique ways of thinking. Whether it was my daughter’s first grade teacher exposing children to all genres of music or my son’s 3rd and 4th grade language arts teacher stretching his writing abilities with creative essays, there was always a challenge. The school has since created the outdoor classroom, an exciting innovation that will bring the creative instruction to the next level.
Among the other attractive qualities of the school were the engaged community of parents and the diverse student body. It is rare for suburban public schools to have a mix of students from so many racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. At Seth Boyden, children and parents from all backgrounds worked together to create a strong academic and socially responsible community.
I also wanted my children to have an experience that was more than just academic. The administrators at Seth Boyden were intentional about emphasizing the arts and creative expression. Perhaps the most enriching experience of the 5th grade year was the Dancing Classroom, where a non-profit dance company taught the children several ballroom dances. There were countless other major events that brought the community together in unique ways.
While many (or some) Maplewood/South Orange residents may think that a neighborhood school is their best option, I’m glad our family didn’t prioritize geographic convenience. We found Seth Boyden enriching, academically excellent, inclusive and community minded. My children have gone onto middle school very well prepared by their years spent at Seth Boyden.
Well-known education researchers, Prudence L. Carter, Linda R. Tropp, and Robert A. Garda Jr., have found that “skills like cross-cultural collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, effective communication, reduced racial prejudice, and empathy are best fostered in diverse classrooms.” Our district has had the foresight to create exactly this sort of opportunity, and our family’s experience affirms the recommendation of the experts.
I encourage those who are looking at the best choice for Kindergarten to take a very close look at Seth Boyden, a gem in our district. I’m confident that anyone that chooses the school will come to think of themselves as we do in our household — as a Seth Boyden family, always.
Gail Greenstein,
Maplewood
