Category Archives: academic excellence in elementary schools

Empathy and Kindness, now more than ever…

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

  How to foster empathy and kindness in children This article in the Washington Post is timely as we help children navigate not only their own relationships, but watch the tenor of the presidential election this fall, and sometimes even … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adolescent development, adult development, childhood development, Making Caring Common at Harvard, mindfulness, parenting, resilience, Rick Weissbourd, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Postscript Japan 2016

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

For the better part of July and August I have let the Japan experience marinate in my mind. There were so many special moments with students, between students, among the adults, even through some pretty substantial language barriers. As we … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, Japan, leadership, leadership in children, Seven Hills Japan Trip 2016, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning, the science of emotion | Tagged | Leave a comment

Japan Day #14 Tokyo tour and then long flight home…

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

The morning had us bidding farewell to host families and Kita City educators. It was a bittersweet farewell. Then we were off to see a few more sites: The Meiji Shrine (a Shinto Shrine) The Edo Tokyo Museum and one … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, Japan, leadership, leadership in children, Seven Hills Japan Trip 2016, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning | Tagged | Leave a comment

Japan Day #13 school day and farewell assembly

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Students went to school today with their hosts and then we all met at the Kita city offices today for our Farewell Assembly with the host families. During the day the chaperones had the chance to visit the Tokyo Sky … Continue reading →

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Day 12 Part #2 Chaperone escapades…

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

So on Sunday, some of the chaperones saw some of Tokyo’s sites: Disneyland and a visit to one of Tokyo’s many animal cafés. In this case, an owl café. Japanese manicures… and the owl café…   to be continued…

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Japan Day #10: half day school visit, then IWAI

Posted on June 24, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

The morning was spent at our various schools having one more visit. Some groups had assemblies and did performances; others took classes and learned more about language and culture. Volleyball, group dances, origami, tea ceremonies and delicious school lunches. Jon … Continue reading →

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Japan Day #7: Each group to a different school…

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Given the raucous conversations at the end of the day, each group had some terrific opportunities to interact with students ranging from kindergarten through 9th grade. I have a few pics of other group activities, as well as mine… Pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, Japan, leadership, leadership in children, literacy, Seven Hills Japan Trip 2016, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning | Tagged | Leave a comment

Day #5, Part 2, Arrival in Kita City

Posted on June 19, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Tons of excitement and the right amount of pomp and circumstance greeted us in Kita City. What a lovely opening assembly. What an honor!                    

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, Japan, Seven Hills Japan Trip 2016, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek | Tagged | Leave a comment

Japan Day #2 Hiroshima and the bullet train to Kyoto!

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Breakfast in the hotel, than a walk across the street to the Peace Park. So we had an amazing, somber, eye-opening and memorable morning in Hiroshima, starting with a hotel breakfast and a walk to the Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum. … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, diversity, education, global education, gratitude, helping children cope with tragedy, Japan, leadership, leadership in children, Seven Hills Japan Trip 2016, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Japan Day #1 on the ground here: our first 24 hours of travel is complete…

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

We are checked into our hotel in Hiroshima after one long flight and one short one with a layer that included noodles and some treats at the Narita airport. It is 9:30pm on Wednesday in Hiroshima, 5:30 am Wednesday morning … Continue reading →

Posted in academic excellence in elementary schools, education, global education, gratitude, grit, Japan, leadership, Seven Hills Japan Trip 2016 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment