Fall Newsletter & Annual Report 2022

WELCOME, DR. RAYMOND YU HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dr. Raymond Yu was appointed Bertschi's third head of school beginning in July 2022. An empathetic and inspiring community builder, Raymond was most recently at The Blake School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. curriculum and instruction, and a bachelor's degree in psychology. He has over 30 Raymond holds a doctorate in educational leadership, a master's degree in

in both public and private schools, a principal of two public elementary schools, and in several independent elementary school leadership roles. Raymond has a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, mostly recently demonstrated by building long-term supportive relationships with marginalized communities, including the Mdewakanton Sioux and local immigrant populations in Minnesota. years of experience in elementary education. He has served as a classroom teacher

Hello Bertschi Community,

Greetings! The 2022-2023 school year is off to a great start, and the students are busy learning about themselves and the world around them. Every day there are countless amazing moments I get to witness that add up to transformational experiences for the lives of our children. I’d like to share two of them with you. Recently, our fifth grade students were exploring their individual identities through the medium of Cornell boxes, named after the late American artist, Joseph Cornell. Our students drew upon both their creativity and objects-of- interest to share more about themselves. In addition, our students wrote artist statements based on the prompt, “What are some important aspects of your personality and how does your Cornell Box represent these aspects?” As I read each student’s statement I learned more about what matters most to them. The following excerpt captures one of our students’ reflections, “The gems on both sides of my Cornell box walls symbolize my friends. Friendship and all of the people I love shape my personality and I wanted the gems to reflect that. My good friend gave me those gems and to honor that love I put them in my Cornell box." Another highlight has been our second graders’ market study. Our students learned about Pike Place Market as well as markets from several different countries. The second graders sold handmade goods as well as seasonal produce from a farm that they had recently visited. Students learned how locally made products can have both a positive impact on local artisans as well as a reduced impact on our environment. One way we can further our understanding of cultures and sustainability is through immersive experiences that foster a deeper understanding of how food is grown, harvested, and brought to market. Our second graders were also excited to further their understanding of markets through our community wide market days. They were deeply and energetically involved in the set up and sales. It was a fabulous celebration for all! As you read our Bertschi fall news and annual report, I hope you are as inspired as I am with our community and that it reinforces your appreciation of the Bertschi experience. I’m confident we can improve the world with global citizens who are compassionate, confident, and creative. The Bertschi kid!

Warm regards,

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Raymond Yu | Head of School

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