tcsnmy8

[tcsnmy8]

Semicolon

Bringing a close to this blog is long overdue, and — considering all that has happened since my last post\* — it feels anticlimactic. The delay stems from my struggle with the task, but today I realized where I've been going wrong. I've been trying to write something that is worthy of this past year and of all four of my years at TCS. That's just plain impossible. Furthermore, I've been making the error of seeing the final post on [this blog](http://tcsnmy8.tumblr.com/post/1026588052) as an end. The solution to my problem came as a I recalled [a](https://twitter.com/litherland/status/226198585522413568) [series](https://twitter.com/litherland/status/226199823936806912) [of](https://twitter.com/litherland/status/226201646940684288) tweets from my friend Caren: > For the record, I view semicolons as a reason for living. > Just the thought of semicolons makes me happy — fills me with hope, even. They are seams. > Semicolons are futherances, affordances; they both separate and join; they neither end nor begin. They temper. I've always liked [semicolons](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semicolon), but Caren's beautiful thoughts and words have me loving them now. Her mention of seams also reminds me of some other beautiful thoughts and words, these from [an essay by Anne Galloway](http://www.purselipsquarejaw.org/papers/galloway_uncommonground_preprint.pdf): > [S]eams and scars point to where we have in the past made or become something else — and yet they also remind us that we can do so again in the future. If we treat them not as irregularities to be hidden but as indicators of our abilities to intervene in the world, seams and scars offer us glimpses of how we shape and re-shape ourselves, each other, and the worlds in which we live. In my mind, that last phrase cues a line from an interview with [William Gibson](http://www.acceler8or.com/2012/05/william-gibson-on-mondo-2000-90s-cyberculture-mondo-2000-history-project-entry-16/): > Who we are is largely who we meet. Let's jump back to semicolons, this time through the words of [Mary Norris](http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2012/07/how-to-use-semicolons.html): > [I]t still seems to have a vestigial interrogative quality to it, a cue to the reader that the writer is not finished yet; she is holding her breath. […] The semicolon keeps the words above water. So, consider this post a semicolon. Consider it a seam between my time at TCS and all that comes next. Consider it a thank you to all of you for being a part of _a now better me_. And consider me holding my breath until we meet again; Rob Greco PS: You can contact me through my gmail account, which has the same name (robertogreco) as my [Tumblr](http://robertogreco.tumblr.com), [Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/robertogreco), and [Pinboard](http://pinboard.in/u:robertogreco/), and [Vimeo](http://vimeo.com/robertogreco). You can also find me on Twitter, with the shorter handle [rogre](http://twitter.com/rogre). PPS: If you're a bit intimidated by semicolons, The Oatmeal has [a great guide to get you started](http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon), including the following line (emphasis mine), which goes well with my sentiments above: "Use a semicolon when you want _to form a bond_ between two statements." \*The list includes a beautiful graduation, two wonderful parties, and many personal goodbyes see-you-laters.

[tcsnmy8]

MAGICAL [7 June 2011]

Graduation will begin at 5:00 PM this evening. **Be back on campus and in the studio no later than 4:30 PM** to take photos in Monkey Meadow. 1. Breathe. And tomorrow? Morning Meeting, Community Meeting, Bridging Ceremony, Preschool Promotion, noon dismissal, and Party at 5:00 PM.

[tcsnmy8]

Calm, cool, and collected [6 June 2012]

On the agenda for tomorrow: full-NMY Morning Meeting **led by all of you**, graduation walkthrough, speech practice, exhibit set-up, pre-graduation confessions, and **noon dismissal**. 1. Sleep tight tonight. Graduation will begin at 5:00 PM tomorrow evening. **Be back on campus no later than 4:30 PM**.

[tcsnmy8]

A scene from this morning: [trike modding](http://www.flickr.com/photos/robertogreco/7156627107/) in the Preschool

[tcsnmy8]

"The baby came!" [5 June 2012]

Apparently you have everything under control. 1. Are you ready for graduation. Tomorrow brings Fun Run (9:30-10:00 AM), Field Day (12:45-1:45 PM), and volleyball (2:15-3:00 PM).

[tcsnmy8]

The Game of Life™ [4 June 2012]

As we continue to clean up the studio, check at home for anything that belongs to the school. For example, you might have a copy of _Casi se meure_, a math text, a calculator, or something else to return. 1. Math: **Tomorrow** is the last day to complete concepts. 2. Exhibit: Descriptions are due **tomorrow**. Assignments: gift (BB), blog post titles (CH), direction for photo timelines (MC), funky photo directions (RL), confessions (SE), and slideshows NMY and PDX (AB). 3. Speeches: Practice. 4. Playlist: Send the music files to Sherif. 5. Gift: Have you paid Carwai back $26 for the purchase she made on your behalf Monday? Our goal is to remove some of the lingering items from this list tomorrow. That means completing them by tomorrow.

[tcsnmy8]

This video, _[Hotpoint Washer Tears Itself Apart - Original Washer Destruction](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_PLnInsh7E)_, is a follow-up to this morning's greeting: "Do you prefer top-loading or front-loading washing machines?"

[tcsnmy8]

Heavens Yes [1 June 2012]

At this point, our list is all about graduation. 1. Speeches: The final draft of your speech is due **Monday**. 2. Exhibit: Descriptions are due on **Tuesday**. Assignments: gift (BB), blog post titles (CH), direction for photo timelines (MC), funky photo directions (RL), confessions (SE), and slideshows NMY and PDX (AB). 3. Playlist: Send the music files to Sherif. 4. Gift: Have you paid Carwai back $26 for the purchase she made on your behalf Monday? And then there was one (week).

[tcsnmy8]

Laure writes: > How could I not have a photo? > I was so deeply moved by your Capstone Presentation yesterday. Your amazing humor, grace, creativity, persistence, individuality and strong sense of community were so wonderfully conveyed last evening in the tiny, yet highly entertaining, snapshot of the astounding original and thoughtful work you have been doing all year. I loved how you addressed the different phases of the process in such detail as much as I enjoyed the final pieces. It was an inspiration, as each and every one of you are as well. Thank you.

[tcsnmy8]

Capstone Kudos

The emails are pouring in. Here are some snippets from what we've received on your behalf.

"Congratulations to all of you for an amazing Capstone night! Each and everyone of you made me laugh and cry. I am so proud of all of you. You should be very proud of yourselves as well. You are all an inspiration to the TCS community." —Rachel

"I just got home from tonight's "Capstone" Presentations. I was so proud to be a part of our school! […] This group of 8th graders really made it their job to bring us all together. Thanks to them all." —Leslie

"The student's presentations were impressive. What stood out to me was their confidence, their ability to be so reflective, their humor, and their true enjoyment for learning. […] It was a terrific and inspiring evening!" —Crista

"Totally amazing!!! Thank you so much for letting us be part of your lives." —Jenny

"Last night was amazing. Congratulations to all the 8th graders… Thank you for being such wonderful ambassadors for our school." —Brian

These kudos and all those voiced in person are so well deserved.

[tcsnmy8]

Leaving my school is like deciding to sell your home and go backpacking in the Antarctic for four years. The adventure will take you great places, but no matter what you’ll want to come back home and sleep in the bed that you know……… I’m gonna miss my home.

—[Charmaine](http://nicichar.tumblr.com/post/24179883096/leaving-my-school-is-like-deciding-to-sell-your)

[tcsnmy8]

Remember your first NMY Presentation of Learning just two short years ago? The image above, which was [posted to the tcsnmy6 blog the day after](http://tcsnmy6.tumblr.com/post/679075688/thanks-to-everyone-who-attended-pecha-kucha-night), served as a screen saver that night. Do you remember [the invitation](http://tcsnmy6.tumblr.com/post/596093040/on-tuesday-june-8-from-6-30-to-8-00-pm-the)? Do you remember the studio that night? Do you remember eating refreshments on the deck? Do you remember waiting nervously on the field for your turn to come and returning to the field having spoken to the crowd? Do you remember mingling in the library? I wonder what the you back then would think about who you are now. Tonight is no shared [Pecha Kucha](http://tcsnmy6.tumblr.com/post/596093040/on-tuesday-june-8-from-6-30-to-8-00-pm-the). Instead it's a chance for each of you to share your individual efforts, your Capstones. Tonight will be a wonderful night. Tonight you will shine!

[tcsnmy8]

"I wung it." [31 May 2012]

Can you believe that Capstone Night has already arrived? Ultimately, belief doesn't matter. You're prepared and will please the crowd and, more importantly, please yourselves this evening. 1. Capstones: **Be here no later than 6:15 PM** so we can start on time at 6:30 PM. 2. Math: There will be a math quiz on concepts 10-1 through 10-4 **tomorrow**. 3. Graduation: The final draft of your speech is due **Monday**. 4. Gift: Have you paid Carwai back $26 for the purchase she made on your behalf Monday? See you in a few hours!

[tcsnmy8]

I can't believe it's not butter! [30 May 2012]

Have you paid Carwai back $26 for the gift purchase she made on your behalf Monday? 1. Capstones: Capstone Night is **tomorrow** at 6:30 PM. Keep practicing. There will be one or two more rehearsals **tomorrow**. 2. Math: Complete problems from Practice 10-4. 3. Math: There will be a math quiz on concepts 10-1 through 10-4 on **Friday**. 4. Español: **Mañana** decoraremos los cascarones. 5. Graduation: The final draft of your speech is due **Monday**. Fin.

[tcsnmy8]

Maxx *loves* kids. [29 May 2012]

Did you turn in you yearbook order? They were due today. 1. Capstones: There are **only 2 school days to go** until the presentations on **Thursday** Have you prepared and rehearsed your presentation? Have you prepared your exhibit? Have you checked in with your mentor? The next rehearsal (in front of the fifth and sixth grades) is **tomorrow**. 2. Math: Complete ten problems from Skills Practice 10-3. Make sure to do at least 2 problems from #15-24. 3. Math: There will be a math quiz on concepts 10-1 through 10-4 on **Friday**. 4. Español: Traiga un huevo (o dos) para **mañana**. Continuaremos hablando sobre los cascarones. 5. Graduation: The third draft of your speech is due **tomorrow**. 6. Graduation: **Tomorrow** is the deadline for placing songs on the playlist. Done.

[tcsnmy8]

From the vaults: [Great Artists](http://www.flickr.com/photos/tcslj/5632198266/in/set-72157626527093282), April 2011

[tcsnmy8]

From the vaults: NMY Dance, February 2011