Together in Song, Story, and Leadership

BY ANDREW DAVIS, HEAD OF SCHOOL

A Gather Like No Other

When I started at MTS ten years ago, I never imagined a Gather like we had last Wednesday was possible. Thankfully, great teachers and leaders kept asking, “What’s possible?”—and last Wednesday, I was blown away.

At that Gather (our all-school assembly), the 8th graders invited me to share what they call “Andrew’s random announcements and important stories.” After telling a story about how my mom used to sing—off-key, joyfully, in church—and reflecting on my own middle-aged, off-pitch love of a community song, I commended our school on an outstanding Gather.

So what stood out?
 

Student Leadership

The first voices we heard belonged to our student leaders: Joy, Molly, and Christina, three eighth graders from the Gather Squad. Along with their squadmates, they emceed the entire event. They taught the “quiet coyote” hand signal, sparked applause with a rousing “1-2-3-Huh!”, and introduced each speaker. From start to finish, Gather was authentically student-led and student-created.

Moments of Connection

Just before my announcements, Vocal Velocity taught the community a song and led us in singing in rounds. This was a joyful moment of unity. Throughout the assembly, “turn and talks” gave students the chance to share ideas, synthesize learning, and connect personally to the content. Large and small, these moments of connection wove the community together.
 

Depth of Understanding

Near the end of the program, our second graders presented on the Jewish High Holidays. While student presentations are a Gather tradition, this one stood out. The second graders didn’t just share facts; they explained what they had done as a class to deepen their understanding of Jewish culture. Their learning extended into the hallways, where their work is proudly displayed.

This project—guided by Rachael in partnership with Tanya—showcases how we are embedding social justice standards into a rigorous curriculum while honoring cultural heritage.
 

Behind the Scenes

Many adults helped set the stage. Tanya guided the Gather Squad and partnered with Rachael on the 2nd grade project. Yunjin led Vocal Velocity in preparing the song. Mike managed the technology. I simply shared my “random announcements and important stories” when the Gather Squad told me it was time.

The Wiggle Test

My favorite measure of a Gather’s success is the “wiggle test”—how long it takes our youngest students to squirm more than they listen. Last week’s student-led, community-centered, deeply thoughtful assembly passed with flying colors: 39 out of 42 minutes of full engagement.
 

TGIAM is the blog of Andrew Davis, Head of School. TGIAM = Thank Goodness It's Almost Monday.