We've been aware for a couple of years now that the applicant pool contained a fast-growing population considering Proctor along with traditionally prosperous schools in southern New England. Prior to this phenomenon, we typically "overlapped" applicants with other small northern New England schools. With the explosion of interest in this school in recent years, it is natural to wonder how we do in the so-called competition to enroll the optimal student population, given the new "competition". The news is now coming in from Admissions: So many students have chosen to accept our offers of admission that a special meeting is scheduled to strategize how to deal with the largest ninth grade....the most females....and, arguably, the most appropriate student body in our history. Here, during the traditional "mouth sounds" assembly, is John using his cranium as a percussive instrument in Friday's assembly:

One parent of a new enrollee writes: "My daughter Jenny, Linda and I had a wonderful time Tuesday on our visit and are pleased to report that Jenny is very excited about attending Proctor next fall. You seem to have rounded up the very best of folks for your staff and we felt very welcomed and are confident that we have made the right choice. BTW, the two boys that stood up and gave their “top ten list” of why you should attend Proctor, were terrific. Their irreverence went a long way to cutting the tension and made it seem much more like home. The parent’s page is great, keep up the good work and I will send you a joke or two on occasion whether you want them or not."

Well, Michael, we look forward to receiving your unsolicited jokes, and to doing what we do for your daughter.

This is an awful transition, but I have to do this. Time was, you put up Christmas decorations after Thanksgiving, and took them down on the Feast of the Kings, January 6. Over the years, we've wised up to the joys of Christmas, and have moved quickly towards making this a year 'round celebration of joy and good tidings. In New Hampshire, literally thousands of homes and barns are bedecked with wreaths and those icicle lights, and there's no sign of stopping the glad tidings. This is a church in neighboring Danbury:

Those with plastic greens aren't necessarily the last to strike their boughs..... No. They're the first to get them up. Seasons greetings, everyone!