I recently had the opportunity to participate in a tour of Mamaroneck High School given by the head of the Guidance Department for a prospective buyer. Though I always knew it was an exciting and dynamic high school (my children and I graduated from there), I was astounded and very pleased to see how the school has been brought into the twenty-first century. The diversity of programming and opportunity is astounding. In addition to the course offerings and extracurricular activities one would expect to see in a highly rated high school, there is an award winning fine arts program complete with a beautiful gallery for the display of students’ work, a performing arts curriculum with its own performance venue, a fully equipped television studio where students generate a daily broadcast, fully equipped science labs and an up-to-date library. What this means for the students is that, whatever their special interest or strength, they can find a niche where that interest can be fully developed. We happened to walk through the school on a rainy day at lunch time, and what I saw was a student body fully engaged in their high school experience–happy, healthy kids sitting on the floor of the hallways or in the cafeteria, chatting, smiling and laughing. They are very fortunate indeed–though I am sure they take it all for granted–because they are growing up in a rich and nurturing environment where their potential, whatever it is, can be realized to the fullest.

Posted By: Marjorie Weschler