Academy Insider

Before the 2015-16 school year began last month, Academy’s senior administrators decided that they wanted to address construction and other campus issues with parents in a lighthearted yet memorable way.

Things like staying out of construction areas, parking in appropriate spots, following carpool guidelines and such were important details and reminders to share with parents, but they wanted to do it in a tongue-in-cheek way that acknowledged we’ve probably all been guilty of infractions at times.

When the idea for a video to show at Parent Nights came up in the discussions, we contacted alumnus Andy Brush ’06, who founded Best Light Video with his business partner Paul Milligan. They’re the ones who produced the promotional video featured on our website: http://www.columbusacademy.org/video.

On the second day of school, Andy spent the afternoon recording our administrators breaking all the rules, so to speak, as examples in a “Don’t Be These People” theme. This was all coordinated, of course, with facilities director Doug Bennett and construction crew chief Matt Arnold, who both appear in the video as rule-enforcers along with this year’s Student Council president Lawson Stump ’16.

Video shown at Lower School Parents Night:

https://youtu.be/0N8ufokAIyIWith all the stress that came with the build-up to the start of the school year, it was actually a nice temporary reprieve for everyone to get outside and have a little fun with this project. When it was time for one administrator to do his or her scene, many of the other administrators stuck around to watch each other “act” out in a reversal of roles than they normally experience.

Most importantly, the videos proved to be an effective way to break the ice at the beginning of each division’s Parents Night.

Video shared with middle and upper school parents:

https://youtu.be/vqzcHd97Lro“I laughed because I think I’ve broken every single one of those rules,” quipped lower school parent Vic Thorne ’92, who is also a member of the school’s Board of Trustees.

That’s okay Vic, but hopefully now you know better.