Middle School Pays Tribute to Inspiring Women

3/5/2021

Mother Teresa. Aretha Franklin. Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Kamala Harris. These are just a few of the many women admired by middle school students and faculty.

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Middle School took time during Morning Meeting on Wednesday, March 3, to celebrate women from all walks of life. After watching a video about the women’s suffrage movement, students and faculty responded to the prompt “Who inspires you and why?” using Padlet, a collaborative software. Newly admitted students also participated in the exercise, as they were taking part in a virtual visit day.

The padlet page contains a panoply of names. Contributions included civil rights activist Rosa Parks, who “stood up for equality and believed in helping others;” singer Demi Lovato, because “she shares her struggles and that helps other people and their struggles;” and perhaps the most popular — and heartwarming — posting: “my mom.”

Associate Head of Middle School Lynn Salehi, who planned the Morning Meeting with Head of Middle School Tasha Elsbach, said that “Initially, we discussed using the padlet just as a place for everyone to share their thinking.” But when she and Elsbach were looking at the contributions and came across some women that they were unfamiliar with, they added informational links so that others could expand their knowledge of these women’s contributions.

“It just sort of happened rather organically!” Salehi explained. “As a collaborative effort, I think the whole thing is pretty awesome.”