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 November 15, 2015
PLAYGROUND
There's a radio commercial playing right now that attempts to define the word "fearless".
We posit that standing on a stage - in front of your schoolmates, teachers, and family - and sharing words you've written about your fears, secrets, and dreams really defines fearlessness.
Which is what audiences saw on The McCann Center stage on Friday, when 16 seventh- and eighth graders (and two second grade friends) presented their original production of PLAYGROUND (click on any photo for more images).
Being new to Swain this year, director 
Veronica Bocian (pictured, right, with cast and crew members)
was looking for a way to get to know her students: "PLAYGROUND gave me the opportunity to sit across the table from each actor, one on one, and figure out what was important to them...
"They never questioned the idea, they never fought the change; they jumped right in, willing to take some risks and step outside their comfort zone. That says something about our school, about the people who have raised them, and mostly, about youth."
As the leaves on the tree fall or change colors, so do the people in our lives, each
season starts a clean slate. As we leave some behind, we can always expect something new in return... It's a good thing to be grateful for where you've been planted, and
I can say I am.- Gusti '16
Instead of our words, here are those written by Dr. Chris Kovats-Bernat, father of Addie '16 - "The Bench Kid":
"Those monologues asked these young performers to reach into themselves, to reflect, and to share their vulnerabilities, their highest virtues, and their  camaraderie with one another; and then to present it with confidence in themselves and trust in one another for a large audience. That is not an easy form of writing, and it is a kind of communication that carries great risk. But by the end of the night, each performer proved herself/himself up to the task, and should be applauded again and again for their courageousness and grace.
"Ms. Bocian, my hat is off to you for directing a production that asked for collaboration, cooperation, empathy, and introspection on the part of each cast member. Above all, I stand in awe once again at the truly transcendent intellectual, moral, and social development of our kids because of the one-of-a-kind educational blessing that The Swain School provides. There is indeed nothing else like this small school on that grassy hill."
I go to that world (the playground) to escape  the real world full of high school, drama, and stress. The playground is my fairy world now. It's somewhere I can always go to and escape the big world. My problems might have changed, but the playground hasn't. - Hannah '16 Getting that first big push is great, but once I'm facing the winds of life, I know I'm on my own. But because of that first push, and knowing they're always behind me, I guess it's not all that scary after all. -
Emily R. '17
Are you the kind of person that moves silently up the ladder, or goes screaming down the slide? What's right? What's wrong? Does it really matter? I guess I don't have to know and I should just know what's right for me. Wherever our place is on the playground, we should realize that that's what makes us unique, and accept it. - Meera '16
The good thing about a seesaw is that it never stays down forever. When I came to Swain I was nervous. But I found out quickly that the people here are nice and they took me under their wing. Now with more people on my seesaw I feel full again. - Nic '17
Thank you for reading this edition of Swain Stories!
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