The year begins in waves, with early orientation for new athletes, transition days for international kids, followed by sports camp and Wilderness Orientation for most new students.... Finally, we're all here, and it's time to get down to business. The incarnation of the community that is Proctor Academy for 2011-12 convened Monday morning, initiated not by administrators, but by student-generated rhythmic clapping. Mike welcomed students "...to the best school anywhere."
The energy in the student population is palpable. The next step is an on-campus orientation for new students which takes them to stations dedicated to Information Technology, Health and Afternoon Activities.
We break in to advisee groups, the dynamic that empowers so much of this school's success with communication, feedback, response and action.
At lunch, new students connect and returning students re-connect.
We charge into initial classes Tuesday. New students ask for directions to classes, and a serious tone dominates.
A harbinger of things to come, a chemistry class observes the difference between visually similar liquids with the ignition of acetone.
