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Author Archive: John Rigney

Anna Karenina & Mike Dawes: a Great Text and a Great Man

July 24, 2010 | Guest Bloggers, John Rigney, Malcolm's Blog

This past fall I blogged about Konstantin Dmitrievitch Levin, a central character from Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. In the blog, “Kostya” or Levin, faces his own mortality through the illness plaguing his brother, Nikolai. Nine months later I revisit Levin as he and I both reflect upon a life of purpose. In the closing pages [...]

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Escaping the Heat, Making A Good First Impression

July 06, 2010 | Guest Bloggers, John Rigney, Malcolm's Blog

A firm handshake and good eye contact are hallmarks of the Hyde greeting. As part of orientation and to escape the stifling heat today, Summer Challenge students walked around school and practiced their greeting skills with the staff. In life, it pays off to be nice to the people who feed you or hand out [...]

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It Takes a Village….

July 02, 2010 | Guest Bloggers, John Rigney, Malcolm's Blog

Seventeen days ago my wife Kirsten and I welcomed our third child, Abel, into the world.  He is a miracle of toes and fingers and goose noises with the occasional squinty open-eye trying to catch a glimpse of the world.  Abel is not our first child however, he is our third. He joins his older [...]

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The Buzz of Activity and Anticipation – Preparing for Summer Challenge

July 01, 2010 | Guest Bloggers, John Rigney

I raise bees and have for the last six years. I love this because of the potential of each hive whether that comes in the form of pounds of honey or lessons learned.  Bees are fascinating and provide endless opportunities from which to learn about their nature and about one’s own. No beehive is exactly [...]

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Back in the Saddle Again…

June 24, 2010 | Guest Bloggers, John Rigney, Malcolm's Blog

I have a love hate relationship with running.  I love the feeling after the fact, the “runner’s high” and the personal pride.  Often times however, I loathe the effort it takes (for me at least) to get the ball rolling get the shoes on and get out the door.  Especially as I’ve gotten older and [...]

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Stand & Deliver – In Honor of Jaime Escalante and Other Great Teachers

April 06, 2010 | Guest Bloggers, John Rigney, Malcolm's Blog

What makes great teaching has recently been the source of debate in the New York Times and our national conversation.  Tied directly to this is the question of what makes great education.  Views vary but over time there have been great teachers who have provided evidence as to what qualities make up both, teachers who [...]

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The Sandra Bullock Trade

April 01, 2010 | Guest Bloggers, John Rigney, Malcolm's Blog

The New York Times ran a compelling op-ed by David Brooks on Tuesday about the tragic circumstances of Sandra Bullock’s life: winner of the Academy Award at the start of the month, the uncovering of her adulterous husband at the end of it.  What I most appreciated about the article is that it highlights our [...]

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If You Build It, They Will Come

March 10, 2010 | Hyde Foundation

Two new schools appear on the horizon as the latest manifestation of Joey Gauld’s dream. A third Hyde Leadership Charter School has been chartered in Brooklyn, NY, and a member of HAPA brings the Hyde template to Orlando, FL. Read more about Hyde-Brooklyn. Read more about Central Florida Leadership Academy.

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Central Florida Leadership Academy – HAPA Pitches In

March 10, 2010 | Hyde Foundation

Central Florida Leadership Academy – HAPA Pitches In When the Litchford family (Andrew, Bath, ’07) graduated from Hyde, Jody Litchford, Andrew’s mom, was sure of two things: 1) by attending Hyde all the members of her family had been blessed with real growth through invaluable life altering experiences; 2) there were thousands of students in [...]

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Hyde-Brooklyn – Our Newest Field of Dreams

March 10, 2010 | Hyde Foundation

Dr. Sandra J. DuPree is building it and she can’t wait to see 66 Kindergartners, 66 first-graders and their families learning to be a Hyde community when the doors open next fall. Dr. DuPree oversaw the process, initiated by the Hyde Foundation, of writing an application for a Hyde charter school in Brooklyn, New York. [...]

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Winter Reflections

March 04, 2010 | Guest Bloggers, John Rigney, Malcolm's Blog

This week’s guest blogger is faculty member Laura Michaels.  Graduating from Franklin & Marshall, Laura joined the Woodstock team two years ago as a Spanish teacher.  She has since taken on numerous challenges including media liaison, Habitat for Humanity Spring Break coordinator, and wilderness guru. Laura took some time this busy week to take a [...]

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The Class of 1998

March 01, 2010 | Guest Bloggers, John Rigney, Malcolm's Blog

This past Saturday I was visited by Dave Sturniolo, an alumnus from the Class of 1998. Dave showed up on route from Boston to New York and decided to touch base and to reconnect. We spent a few hours talking about life at Hyde then and where we each were now. We laughed a lot [...]

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A Father’s Tough Love and the Olympic Dream

February 21, 2010 | Guest Bloggers, John Rigney, Malcolm's Blog

Recently NBC covered the story of Olympian skater Apolo Ohno and his relationship to his father, Yuki. They highlighted the love and devotion that has compounded over the years, showing these two men as they stand today, dedicated and steadfast. They presented this by delving into the tumultuous years of Apolo’s youth and in particular, [...]

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The Olympic Spirit

February 14, 2010 | Blogs, Guest Bloggers, John Rigney, Malcolm's Blog, Woodstock Blogs

I love the Olympics. I always have. As a young kid I remember sitting around the TV with my entire family as we watched the fulfillment of dreams and agony of defeat. It was magical. It was or at least seemed to be pure for so many reasons. What struck me was that we were [...]

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Media’s Role in Illuminating Truth

February 14, 2010 | Blogs, Guest Bloggers, John Rigney, Malcolm's Blog, Woodstock Blogs

Mohamed Bakkar came to Hyde this fall as a sophomore.  Recently he wrote a short piece (below) for his World History class discussing his experience as a Muslim.  When asked to share some of his background and why he wrote this, Mohamed wrote the initial paragraph in italics. His original response for class follows. I [...]

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