Walking with me toward the Learning Center Tuesday morning, the father of a new student expressed amazement at the amount of preparation required to start the year at Proctor. It is true that the work invested to pull off two separate Wilderness Orientations (a combined 18 groups of eight students... each led by two adults,) with whole teams of teachers organizing food, travel arrangements, etc. is mind-boggllng. But in response, I noted that one advantage of an extremely stable faculty is that each of us has a role that we know, and we execute it.

 

Susan Rochon organizes a team that divides and distributes foods; Brooks Bicknell '77 manages leaders and routes; Caroline Canto deals with health issues, and Sarah Whitehead arranges transportation. So far, I'm just talking about logistics pertaining to Orientation! Registration--itself--is a huge, coordinated, team effort.

 

When he first arrived as Head of School five years ago, Mike Henriques remarked about this momentum that Proctor enjoys. He didn't need to tell people what to do; we were ready to do what we do best.

 

From the very beginning....at the opening lunch, we introduce families to the magic of small groups. The families of eight boys or girls come together for introductory stuff: where the group will be hiking, the importance of unplugging from technology, and the meaning of teamwork.


 

These guys are ready! 



Prep schools are known for their traditions. Many schools have rites with religious significance. Proctor has lots of traditions, but they tend to be novel and very human: Polar Swim, assembly, the bell ringing after a team victory. One of the whackiest is the new family lapsit that we have executed for 40 years in a row.

 

Suddenly, parents and sibs are gone, and we are at a trailhead in the White Mountains for four full days together. This is a fresh start. An opportunity to drop the act.... To consider the self with new relationships....



Proper nutrition is always key.....

 

And we're off!